C-NS’s Sovring earns return to state golf tournament

Cicero-North Syracuse girls golfer Brianna Sovring reached a pinnacle in her high school career when she qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament for the second time a season ago.

Now, though, Sovring has reached a new milestone as, by finishing fifth in Tuesday’s 2014 Section III championships at Kanon Valley Country Club, she will get to return to SUNY-Delhi’s course on June 14-15 and make a third appearance in the state tournament to match the trips she took in 2011 and 2013.

Veteran poise and experience, combined with the talents of some remarkable young golfers, made for a spicy mixture as the season’s best conditions – sun, light breeze, pleasant temperatures – greeted the competitors in their second straight sectional tournament held at Kanon Valley.

Sovring was steady throughout her round, not recording any big numbers on her card. By the time she was done, Sovring had posted an 85, putting her right in the middle of the pack of nine state qualifiers.

Auburn’s Larissa Carter repeated her sectional victory from 2013 with a two-over-par 75, beating out New Hartford’s seventh-grade sensation, Sydney Bard, by two shots. Only Carter, Bard, Jamesville-DeWitt’s Molly Hair (with an 81) and Auburn eighth-grader Lindsay May (with an 82) played better than Sovring.

As a team, C-NS posted a 404, far from the swift pace set by Auburn, who repeated as sectional champions with a total of 338. Fayetteville-Manlius (369) edged out New Hartford (371) and J-D (372) for second place.

Behind Sovring, Bridget Burrows led the Northstars with her 18-hole score of 98. Elise Towers posted a 107 while Jessica Doran shot a 119. Liverpool’s Alessa Main led her side with a 98, while Katie Kraft posted a 107 and Jenn Kalaher shot a 109.

Sovring is joined on the state team by Carter, Bard, Hair, May, Katie Walsh (Baldwinsville), Junghye Kim (J-D) and two F-M golfers, Alexandra Millimaci and Kenzie Kingsley.

Five golfers – Sovring, Carter, May, Walsh and Hair – were in the state tournament a year ago, where Sovring posted rounds of 89 and 92 to finish at 181 for the two days, a score she will hope to improve on the second time around.