Since Cicero-North Syracuse fields two boys golf teams in the fall, they compete in the same CNY Counties League against the same opponents – and ultimately, have to face each other.
This unique intra-school showdown took place last Monday at Northern Pines, and the older C-NS Blue squad wanted no part of a defeat to C-NS Green, pulling away and prevailing by a score of 187-208.
For C-NS Blue, Nick Ernstine led the way, his nine-hole score of 35 breaking par as teammate Brendan Villnave matched par with a 36. Justin Pellegrino had a 38, with Noah Pauldine posting a season-best 39 and Andrew Brunozzi also shooting 39.
No one on C-NS Green could top the 40 shot by Brian Pellegrino, Jake Nardozza and Josh Matyasik both finished at 41 as Ben Haven and Carson Carino put up matching rounds of 43.
Now it was on to other matches as C-NS Green handled the combined Syracuse City team 201-227 Wednesday at Northern Pines. Mike Battaglia led with a 39, one ahead of Nardozza and Chase Hurley, plus Syracuse’s Joe Lee. Ryan Cisco got a 49 and Carino finished with a 58.
C-NS Blue now put its 5-2 record on the line at Timber Banks Thursday against CNY Counties League leader Baldwinsville, whose only loss of the season came to the Northstars 192-199 on Aug. 24.
Despite a solid performance, the Northstars lost, 203-209, to the Bees, who featured Maxwell Dec shooting a 37, one over par, as three others – Zach Ravas, Trevor Tooke and Ben Donahue – each finished at 41.
And this led to the second C-NS golf duel of the week, taking place on Friday, with Blue prevailing 211-232 over Green largely because Chris Ranalli shot a 37 and Villnave added a 38, whileErnstine and Matt Thornhill both shot 45 and Pellegrino earned a 48.
Green had Nardozza shoot a 42 to finish third among individuals behind Ranalli and Villnave. Battaglia posted a 46, while Sisco had a 47 and two others, Hurley and Carino, both finished with a 48.
While all this was going on, Liverpool resumed last Tuesday at Westvale, where it lost 188-217 to the West Genesee Wildcats.
Tyler Dorval shot a 40 at Westvale, with Kenneth Krafft adding a 41. Brandon Exner (43), Spencer Baum (46) and Dante Quilty (47) were further back as WG got a 34 from Dylan Plis, a 36 from Joe Morgan and a 37 from Jack Bove, plus a 39 from Chad Corcoran.
Then Liverpool had its own match with Baldwinsville a day later at Timber Banks. During the 190-235 defeat, Krafft shot a 43, two better than Dorval’s 45, with Baum (48) beating out Quilty (50) and Tyler Leatherwood (49).
However, B’ville had the best five rounds of the day, starting with Ryan Fecco posting a two-under-par 34. Donahue had a 37, with Dec (38) and Tim Garraffo (39) close behind and Ravas adding a 42.
Liverpool lost again on Thursday, a 191-214 decision to Fayetteville-Manlius. Leatherwood had one of his best rounds of the season, posting a 39 at Liverpool Country Club, while Baum had a 41, Exner again shot 43 and Krafft (45) was one ahead of Elijah Marris (46). Four Hornets shot under 40, led by Adam Butch, whose 36 beat out teammates Tim Zapisek (37), Kyle Gilroy (38) and John Cacchio (39) for individual honors.
