Able to practice more outdoors than in seasons past, Cazenovia’s golf teams were fully prepared for the start of the 2012 spring campaign, as evidenced by a string of three consecutive victories in as many days.
The boys Lakers opened last Wednesday with a 189-237 victory over Jordan-Elbridge. Matt Schaffer blazed to a nine-hole score of 34 at Cazenovia Country Club, with Nick Christakos close behind as he shot 35. Trevor Gatzke managed a 38 as Brian Demo and Gus Whittaker each shot 41.
Then the Lakers won a rematch with J-E 217-245 just 24 hours later at the Links at Sunset Ridge. Christakos continued to play well, shooting a 37, and though Schaffner and Whittaker followed with a 44 and Demo added a 46, Cazenovia still won with ease.
Another road trip followed, to Skaneateles on Friday, where in the battle of Laker teams Cazenovia pulled it out by a score of 209-220.
Schaffner led the way this time, his 38 at Skaneateles Country Club the only score under 40 for either side. Christakos landed on 40, with Gatzke (43), Whittaker and Demo (44 each) offering solid rounds in support. Doug Pinckney led Skaneateles with a 42, but none of his teammates did better than 46.
During its opening week, the Cazenovia girls team met neighborhood rival Chittenango at CCC, and did just enough to get past the Bears 217-224.
It was Chittenango’s Meg Arnold posting the low nine-hole total of 43, but the Lakers had more depth. Maggie Carpenter led Cazenovia with a 49, while Maddy Ellithorpe and Danielle Mezec each shot 55. Megan Gearity had the Bears’ second-best total, a 56.
The Lakers opened last Tuesday, at Arrowhead against East Syracuse-Minoa, and put up strong scores in a 209-242 victory over the Spartans. Carpenter shot a 45, 11 shots better than ESM’s top player, Christina Harkum. Mezec helped the Lakers with a 52.
On Friday, both sides lost. Cazenovia fell to Westhill, 205-221, at CCC as Kelsi Fredericks shot a 51 for the Lakers. Chittenango took a 192-222 defeat to CBA at Woodcrest as, again, Gearity set the pace with a 51.
