Put simply, the Fayetteville-Manlius boys golf team got as close to a Section III Class AA title as one could get without actually winning it.
The Hornets went across town to Green Lakes State Park for an 18-hole battle with all the other Class AA teams for sectional honors.
And when the scores were added up, F-M had 393. West Genesee also had 393. They were tied for first – but because the Wildcats’ sixth golfer had a lower score, that was the tie-breaker, and the Hornets had to settle for second place.
Ryan Sero and Sean Wildhack led F-M’s efforts, tying for fourth place with scores of 77. Tyler Ramie, with a 78, shared sixth place, while Kevin Ralph posted an 80. Briton Noble and Dan Thomas each shot 81. All of them qualified for next May’s Section III tournament at Colgate University’s Seven Oaks course.
Before the sectionals, F-M got a big win over Baldwinsville, 197-203, at Radisson to move its record to 10-2. Even though Fero’s round of 38 kept him three shots behind the Bees’ Luke Ciulla, Ralph and Wildhack provided the depth, both shooting rounds of 39.
The Hornets backed that up on Tuesday by topping Liverpool 194-206. On the unfamiliar ground of Liverpool Country Club, Fero and Ramie each shot 36, three shots better than the Warriors’ Connor Weakley, while Ralph posted a 39 in support.
Making it three wins in as many days, F-M topped Oswego 193-205 to send its mark to 12-2. Nick Polera stepped up, shooting a 36 at Woodcrest as Ramie (37) loomed close behind. Fero, Dan Thomas and Anthony Millimaci each finished at 40.
Each of the area’s other high school boys golf teams still had some more regular-season work to do in the Onondaga High School League.
Jamesville-DeWitt kept itself unbeaten last Monday afternoon, going to 10-0 with a 207-226 victory over the Cortland Purple Tigers.
Fighting both rain and cold temperatures at Cortland Country Club, Erik Davis and Deke Burns had equal nine-hole totals of 40, and got back-up from Tyler Kirwin, who shot a 41, and Tom Schutte, who added a 42. Only one Cortland player, Justin Sidebottom (41), matched their efforts.
In similar conditions on Tuesday, J-D beat Fulton 211-233 at Battle Island. Though most of the team struggled, Davis did not, nearly matching par with a 36 as Burns contributed a 39.
But the Red Rams’ streak ended Tuesday at the Links at Erie Village where, with a score of 213, J-D lost to East Syracuse-Minoa’s Blue team, who shot 199. Fulton was third with 232.
Davis still had the low individual score of 37, but ESM teammates Ben Loder (38) and Mat Placito (39) were next in line as Bryan Reader and Mike Brown Miller both posted 40 to help the Spartans pull away. Dan LaClair, in defeat, had a 39 and Burns posted a 41.
J-D would rebound Thursday, taming Chittenango 205-238 at Lafayette Hills. Davis tied the Bears’ Mike McIntosh for the low round of 38, but had far more support as Schulte landed a 39 and two others, Burns and LaClair, matched each other with 41.
CBA went to Homer and earned a 194-208 victory over the Trojans, though Andrew Derrenbacker’s round of 37 was one shot worse than Homer’s Jorge Martinez. Aidan Fuller contributed a 39.
A day later, the Brothers handled LaFayette 201-238 at Orchard Valley. Jack Bellardine shot a 39, three shots behind the Lancers’ Victor Dupuis, but got far more help as Fuller and Chris Bousquet each shot 40. CBA also beat Phoenix 215-247 at Beaver Meadows as Fuller shot a 35.
On that same Tuesday, ESM Blue held off Chittenango 195-199, despite the Bears’ John Laskowski blistering Rogues Roost with a 32. Loder shot a 37, one shot ahead of teammate Placito, with Brown Miller posting a 38. Dan MacDougall shot a 40 and Reader added a 42, with Tyler Good also contributing a 42.
ESM’s Orange team took a 199-249 loss to Tully at Vesper Hills. Matthew Barbani shot a 46, well behind the Black Knights’ duo of Chris Jacbous and Ian Kelly, who each shot 38.