By just a handful of shots, the West Genesee boys golf team missed grabbing the Section III Class AA championship Wednesday at Green Lakes State Park.
Instead, the Wildcats had to settle for second place with a team total of 390, which topped everyone except Fayetteville-Manlius, who won with 386.
John Clare threatened to claim the individual championship, too. His near-ace on the 4th hole highlighted an 18-hole round of 72, one over part, that tied Baldwinsville’s Brendan Polsin, one shot behind Central Square’s Brandon Payne, who won with even-par 71.
Louis Ciarla impressed, too, with a round of 75, while Bryan Semple posted a 79 and Nick Smith had an 80. Clare, Ciarla, Semple and Smith all advance to the overall Section III tournament in late May at Colgate University’s Seven Oaks course in Hamilton.
In the tune-ups for the sectional tournament, Clare again led the way as WG swept last Monday’s three-way match with Oswego and Cicero-North Syracuse.
Overall, the Wildcats shot 190, well ahead of the Buccaneers (215) and Northstars (218), and each of WG’s top five players would break 40 for nine holes at Westvale.
Clare put up a 36, while Ciarla and Smith both checked in with rounds of 38. As if that wasn’t enough, Pat Matkowski had a 39, one of his best totals of the season, as Semple posted a 39. Oswego’s Collin Daino and CNS’s Luke Cavallo both shot 41 to lead their respective sides.
Right after that, the Wildcats took out Auburn 196-207 on Tuesday at Highland Golf Course, improving its mark to 8-6.
Semple led with a 37, tied with Auburn’s Nikita Rosenblum for low individual honors, one ahead of Clare, Ciarla and the Maroons’ Mike May. Ryan St. Croix stepped up for a 40 and Smith posted a 43, all of which tied or bettered the last three Auburn totals.