The cooler temperatures and tougher conditions meant only one thing – it was time for fall boys golf to head toward its moments of decision.
Two separate Section III fall tournaments would take place this week, with the large schools, including West Genesee, going to Radisson Greens as the Wildcats look to defend its sectional Class AA team title.
As for the small schools that include fall season newcomer Westhill, the show would take place at Timber Banks, where berths in the sectional state qualifier, to be held late in May at Seven Oaks in Hamilton, would also be on the line.
First, though, the Warriors had the OHSL Freedom National regular-season title to put away, and it got closer to that goal in last Monday’s 219-240 victory over the Chittenango Bears at Camillus Country Club.
Anthony Maglisco finished with a 39, tied with Chittenango’s Kyler Christopher for individual honors. But the Warriors’ depth overwhelmed the Bears as David Bleskoski posted a 42, with Sean Dadey and Josh Marshall both shooting 44.
A day later, hosting Oswego, the league title was secured with a 200-213 victory where Westhill’s depth helped to overcome the fact that the Buccaneers’ Joe Kelly shot a 35 to win the individual event by four strokes.
Maglisco, Dadey and Owen Matukas each finished at 39 to put the Warriors in front, and it stayed there because Marshall improved to a 40 and Bleskoski helped with a 43. Kelly was the only Oswego golfer to break 40 as Corey Stevens (41), Bryce Hourigan (42), Ryan Bartlett (47) and Ben Stevens (48) trailed.
West Genesee would start to tune up for the sectional tournament last Monday with a 197-223 victory over Liverpool. Over nine holes at Liverpool Country Club, Dylan Plis shot a 36, part of a top-four Wildcats sweep.
Joe Morgan, with a 38, was the only other golfer to break 40 in the windy conditions, finishing second as Dan Benetti had a 40 and Jack Corcoran shot a 41. Dom Pensabene got a 42 to tie for fifth with Liverpool’s top two individuals, Spencer Baum and Elijah Marris.
Back at Westvale on Wednesday, WG met Cicero-North Syracuse Green and put together one of its strongest efforts of the fall, prevailing by a score of 179-190, led by Plis, who shot a 34, and Nick Bove, who contributed a 36.
Morgan’s 36 tied C-NS Green’s Brian Pellegrino for third place, but the good scores didn’t stop there. Benetti, Jimmy LaValle and Mike DiPaola each shot 37, while Pensabene continued to improve and posted a 40 in front of Derek Pettinelli, who earned a 42.
And this set up Friday’s showdown with Fayetteville-Manlius at Woodcrest. Having beaten Baldwinsville and lost to C-NS’s Blue team earlier in the week, the Hornets needed a win to clinch a tie with B’ville for CNY Counties League regular-season title.
Try as it could, the Wildcats could not keep F-M from that goal, taking a 187-195 defeat in wet, windy conditions. Plis shot a 35, beating F-M’s Colin Sommers (36) for top honors, while Jason Coleman and Nick Perry added twin 37s in front of Morgan’s 38.
Bove and Corcoran both posted rounds of 40, and DiPaola contributed a 41, but they were all topped by another F-M trio as Tim Zapisek matched Morgan by shooting a 38 and two others, John Cacchio and Will Franey, each shot 39.
