For a long time, the Marcellus boys golf team, like everyone else in the Onondaga High School League Liberty division, had to settle for spots behind Skaneateles in the standings.
But all that changed on Thursday afternoon at Tuscarora Golf Club, where the Mustangs upended the Lakers 193-198 – the first time in more than five seasons that any league opponent has beaten Skaneateles.
In doing so, Marcellus took over first place in the Liberty division, though to win the title outright it will likely have to win the rematch with the Lakers on May 25 at Skaneateles Country Club.
On this day, though, the Mustangs had the depth and fortitude to pull it out. It started with Joe Felicia, the team’s top player for most of the spring, who posted a one-under-par 35 at Tuscarora, one shot behind the Lakers’ top player, Jeff Baldetti.
The two sides matched their second and third-best scores, as Marcellus saw Zach Anderson post a 37 and Ryan Bonk contribute a 39, the same score as the Lakers’ duo of Eric Edmunds and Justin Sisson.
Five scores count into the final total – and here was where Marcellus won it. Both Adam Kinsella and Garrett Thompson stepped up their game, finishing at 41, which was a combined four shots better than the Lakers’ trailers, Doug Pinkney (43) and Dylan Rothenberg (43). Kinsella, by his total, became the seventh different Marcellus golfer to qualify for the Section III championships later this month.
Aside from the rematch with Skaneateles, the Mustangs also visit Cazenovia on Monday and host Solvay on May 23 at Tuscarora.
In a preview of the battle later in the week, Marcellus first met Skaneateles in last Monday’s West Side Classic at Bellevue Country Club, with Solvay, Westhill and Jordan-Elbridge also part of the field.
Here, the Mustangs took second place, with 170, edging out the Warriors (171) for that runner-up spot behind the Lakers, who won with 156. The Eagles shot 184 and the Bearcats posted 192.
Among individuals, Marcellus’ Eric Mosher took top honors with a 36 for nine holes, while Felicia had a 40. In between, Westhill’s Alex Conway managed a 39.
Then they went to separate matches, where Marcellus beat J-E 204-234 at Millstone. Ryan Bonk went to the front with a 39, with Felicia, Kinsella and Anderson each posting 41. Eagles teammates Aaron Iddings and Pat Hogan had matching totals of 44.
Solvay went home to Pine Grove and lost to Cazenovia 188-234. Jimmy Farella shot a 40 and Zach Sweet added a 41, but it dropped off from there. Brian Demo led the Lakers with a 36.
Westhill took another shot at Skaneateles on Wednesday at Camillus Country Club and got close, but still lost to the Lakers 191-199. Mike Marshall impressed with a 36, while Nate Meisner and Ryan Conroy each shot 39.
Aside from the rematch with Skaneateles, the Mustangs also visit Cazenovia on Monday and host Solvay on May 23 at Tuscarora.
