Even before it finally started to dry out and warm up, each of Cazenovia’s golf teams was able to complete its first matches of the 2016 season.
Things were still quite soggy when Cazenovia’s boys hosted Skaneateles last Monday afternoon, and this latest Laker duel would see Cazenovia get a top individual performance from Cody Thorp, but still take a 222-236 defeat.
Thorp ignored the rain and chilly temperatures and recorded a nine-hole score of 36 at Cazenovia Country Club, far ahead of Carter Stiegel, who led Skaneateles with a 42. However, Stiegel was one of seven Skaneateles players to score 51 or lower, with Jacob Patalino, Sam Clymer (44 each) and Ray Falso (45) close behind Stiegel.
By contrast, only Hayden Fasset, with a 45, got close to Thorp’s total on the Cazenovia side. Trevor Nourse had a 49, while Alex Pezzi, Ryan Mistur and Ryan Modzeleski each shot 53. Geoff Christensen had a 57 and Zach Maxwell added a 58.
Cazenovia dropped another close decision a day later when it fell to Westhill 217-220 at Camillus Country Club. Thorp, shooting a 38, had the low individual round by three shots over the Warriors’ Tim Falcaro, but other than Thorp and Fasset (who had a 42), no one could put up a low round.
In Thursday’s 217-235 defeat to Marcellus, Thorp posted a 41 at Marcellus Golf Club, topped only by the Mustangs’ Jay Colella, who had a 39. Nourse, with a 47, was just ahead of Pezzi (47) and Fasset (49), with Ryan Mistur adding a 52. Five Marcellus golfers shot 46 or lower, which made the difference.
On Wednesday afternoon, it was time for the Cazenovia girls golf team to get underway, ironically taking on its Madison County neighbors from Chittenango, with the Lakers scraping out a 235-245 victory over the Bears.
Maleigha Ellithorpe shot a 53 as she and Cazenovia teammate Erin Howles (55) gained the two lowest individual totals. Abbie Auero, with a 63, and Carolyn Benn, with a 64, helped out. For Chittenango, Meghan Pexton and Megan Pierce each shot 58, with Sarah Schmidt adding a 60. Rachel Cleary (63) and Emily Russell (64) were close behind.
A day later, when Chittenango took on Marcellus, it lost a 220-256 decision. Schmidt finished with a 61, with Hannah Turner shooting a 63 and Alyssa Bates posting a 64 as Pierced added a 68. Mary Colella, with a 46, and Hannah Abbot, with a 50, accounted for most of the Mustangs’ winning margin.
The Bears had an opponent reach the exact same winning number Friday as it fell to Christian Brothers Academy 220-253. Anna Norman paced Chittenango by shooting a 60, two shots ahead of Schmidt. The Brothers’ Liz Kip managed a 47 and Paige Nicholson added a 53.
