One benefit of the Skaneateles boys golf team going to a fall schedule was that it now had a chance to conduct matches against its Route 20 rivals from Auburn, more so since the Maroons moved down from the CNY Counties League into the Onondaga High School League this fall.
Indeed, Skaneateles did make the short trip to Highland Golf Course last Tuesday afternoon. But the Lakers quickly found out why the Maroons are undefeated as it couldn’t keep up with the hosts and took a 205-235 defeat.
Highland is a difficult layout, but Carter Stiegel still shot a 41 to pace the Lakers. Kenny Peterson had a 45, while Michael Murphy (48), Jake Reed (50) and Jack Canty (51) were further back.
Auburn recorded the top three individual rounds, seeing Ryan Chalupnicki post a 38 to edge out Alex Burgmaster (39) for first place, while Ross Burgmaster had a 40. Trevor Hogan shot a 42 and Tyler Ely contributed a 46.
Back home at Skaneateles Country Club, the Lakers faced Cortland a day later, and with the scores soaring on both ends due to windy conditions, Skaneateles had to work hard for a 236-239 win over the Purple Tigers.
Jones shot a 44, the same total as Cortland’s top two golfers, Adam Passalugo and Tyler Swartout, but Murphy produced a 46, and Skaneateles had a bit more depth behind Jones and Murphy in order to regain the lead and keep it.
Homer would visit SCC two days later. Looking to improve to 8-2, the Lakers again saw the scores rise, but again survived it to beat the Trojans 237-243.
In the race for the individual medal, Jones once more won it by netting a 43 to the 44 posted by Homer’s Brent McNeil. Stiegel had a 46 to finish third, but Ethan Stiles, with a 47, and Noah Goddard, with a 48, allowed the Trojans to catch up.
The Lakers’ superior depth created a victory, though, as Murphy matched Goddard’s 48, followed closely by Sswyer Gorman’s 49 as Kenny Peterson clinched it with a 51 after Homer’s Mike Turck posted a 50.
A big week lies ahead for Skaneateles, who took an 8-2 record into a trio of matches, two of them back-to-back against fall newcomer Westhill and CBA after Monday’s home battle against Tully.
