For a long time, the Cicero-North Syracuse boys golf teams looked up at others as they took their turns atop the Section III AA ranks.

Now, though, it’s the Northstars who hold the crown after its work in last Wednesday afternoon’s sectional qualifier, held at Arrowhead Golf Course in East Syracuse.

With a total of 395, C-NS Blue won by a comfortable nine-shot margin over Auburn, who was second with 404, while Fayetteville-Manlius took third place with 405.

Individually, the Northstars’ Joey Petrin shared individual honors with Central Square’s Brandon Payne, both posting an 18-hole total of 75. Mike Mento tied another Red Hawks golfer, Justin Powless, for third place, adding a 76.

C-NS Blue prevailed on the basis of its depth, as Cory Piper stepped up to shoot an 80, just ahead of Derek Teague and Luke Cavallo, who had matching totals of 82.

Liverpool, meanwhile, finished eighth with 428, led again by Karl Deuble, who shot a 78 to share fifth place among individuals. C-NS Green had a total of 469.

Petrin, Mento, Deuble and other top finishers advance to the overall Section III tournament, which won’t be held until late May at Colgate University’s Seven Oaks course.

Two days before the sectional tournament, C-NS Blue gathered up one more league victory, taking out the combined Syracuse city squad 192-221 at Brooklawn.

Joey Petrin led the Northstars’ charge, posting a 34. Mento finished with a 35, while Jon Petrin shot a 39. Teague managed to earn a 40, the same as Syracuse’s top player, Joe DiBello. Brian Smiley got a 43, one of his best rounds of the season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, also earned a victory, edging West Genesee 183-184 at Westvale Golf Club in Camillus to improve its mark to 5-9.

Deuble and Dan Calabria had matcing rounds of 35, while Harrison Sardella had a strong total of 36. John Rojek posted a 38 and Mike Gabriel had a 39.

All of this was needed because the Wildcats had a 36 from Brian St. Croix and 37 from John Clare, Stuart Winn, John Salanger and Adam Kornbeniewski, a balanced effort that was not quite enough.

C-NS Green met Baldwinsville, and took a 196-213 defeat to the Bees at Lakeshore. Ben Cummings shot a 41, one shot better than Shawn O’Neil, with Eric Cummins, Adam Wisely and Eddie Szopinski each finishing at 43. B’ville featured Matt Monaco, who shot 35, and Christian Nizamis, who added 38.

But when Liverpool took its shot at B’ville a day later, the Warriors, buoyed by home-course advantage, defeated the Bees 202-207.

Deuble, at his home course of Liverpool Country Club, had a 38, while Rojek managed a 41. No one on the Bees did better than the 40s posted by Nizamis and Truman Strodel.