Following a week to rest and practice during the school break, the Marcellus boys golf team resumed the winning form it had showed in early-season matches.
To start with, the Mustangs pounded Fabius-Pompey 191-242 last Monday afternoon. Jay Colella shot a 34 for nine holes, not only breaking par at the Pompey Club, but finishing well clear of the Falcons’ top individual, Adrian Villardi, who had a 46.
It proved a lot tougher on Thursday at a wind-swept Marcellus Golf Club, but the Mustangs still beat Cazenovia 263-267. Frank Szczesch and David Bosak both shot 42, just ahead of Colella and Carter Austin, who both posted 43. This helped overcome a 39 from Cazenovia’s Alex Pezzi, who was one ahead of teammates Cody Thorp and Geoff Christiansen.
Then, on Friday, Marcellus handled Pulaski 208-285. In calmer conditions at MGC, Colella blazed to a 35, well clear of a pack of teammates that finished in close proximity. Austin shot a 42, while Szczech, Bozak and Tim Sheridan each posted 43.
Jordan-Elbridge won its first match following the school break, topping Cato-Meridian 246-285. Max Bondgren flourished with a 40, well clear of teammate Jessi Tripp (48) and the Blue Devils’ Mike Grant, who had a 49. Cole Melfi and Ben Sullivan both shot 52, while Nate Melfi finished with a 54.
Then the Eagles defeated Altmar-Parish-Williamstown 144-177 on Thursday afternoon, as on a short course Cole Melfi shot a 24, beating out Bondgren by two strokes. Sullivan and Nate Melfi both shot 30 in front of the Rebels’ Jenna Brockett, who had a 32. Tripp contributed a 34.
But the Eagles’ win streak got halted Friday at Millstone with a 208-271 defeat to Cazenovia. Bondgren, with a 51, beat out Nate Melfi (53) and Cole Melfi (54), with Sullivan getting a 56 and Tripp a 57, but five Lakers individuals shot 47 or lower, led by Thorp’s 34 and Pezzi’s 39.
Bishop Ludden played its opening match of the season on Thursday and lost, 238-263, to Fabius-Pompey. Collin Cacchione shot a 44 to lead the Gaelic Knights, beaten only by the Falcons’ Adrian Villardi, who had a 43.
In girls golf, Marcellus would go head-to-head against Westhill last Tuesday at Tuscarora as part of a three-team match with Skaneateles. The Mustangs beat the Warriors 224-243, but both finished behind the Lakers, who had 213.
Mary Colella led Marcellus by shooting a 47, well clear of teammate Kendall Koloski, who had a 56. Angela Vigliotti paced Westhill with a 58, just ahead of Catherine Dadey (59) and Ellie Masterpole (60), while the Mustangs’ Grace Alexander also had a 60 and Erin Hass got a 61.
Marcellus started the week with a win, topping Cazenovia 217-229. Much of that margin came from Colella shooting a 44 at Cazenovia Country Club to finish 10 shots ahead of the Lakers’ Maleigha Ellithorpe and Erin Howles, who both shot 54. Alexander added a 55 for the victorious Mustangs.
On that same Monday, Westhill would fight past Chittenango 217-233, led by Masterpole and Vigliotti, who both shot 51 for the Warriors, edging out the Bears’ Megan Pierce (53) and Jennie McIntosh (55) for individual honors.
Following the defeat to Marcellus, Westhill dropped a tight 219-220 decision to Cazenovia at Camillus Country Club on Wednesday afternoon. Masterpole, shooting a 53, was behind the Lakers’ Erin Howles (50) and Maleigha Ellithorpe (52), while Vigliotti and Madeleine Jones both shot 55.
When Marcellus faced Skaneateles again on Thursday, the Mustangs took a 200-212 defeat. Colella shot a 48 at Skaneateles Country Club, but that was one shot behind the Lakers’ Addison Gremly, who was joined by Karah Blair (49) and Jillian Barker (51).
West Genesee played last Monday at Timber Banks, where it lost, 240-245, to Baldwinsville, unable to get its first match win of the spring despite a 50 from Mikaela Riley that beat the Bees’ top individual, Kara Vredenburg, by five strokes.
Then, running into undefeated Fayetteville-Manlius on Friday, the Wildcats fell to the Hornets 172-212. At Green Lakes, Riley shot a 49, trailing a quartet of F-M players as Madison Kingsley led with a 41, followed by Justine Burness (43), Maggie Bonomo and Grace Perry (44 each).
