Even with mid-summer temperatures and dry conditions, the Skaneateles boys golf team did not have many matches late in September as the end of a compressed regular season quickly loomed.
When the Lakers returned from an eight-day break to face Tully last Monday at Skaneateles Country Club, the thermometer pushed to 90 degrees and neither side was in top form, but Skaneateles pulled out a 225-236 victory.
Ty Jones shot a 39 for nine holes, clear of teammate Michael Murphy, who managed a 42. Kenny Peterson contributed a 46 as Tyson DiRubbo and Ben Spinelli both got rounds of 49 and Jack Canty gained a 50.
A day later, the Lakers faced Christian Brothers Academy, a team it beat 219-234 back on Sept. 13 at SCC. Now at Drumlins, Skaneateles looked to clinch the OHSL Liberty National division regular-season title – and did so, fighting past the Brothers 210-212.
At the top, Jones tied CBA’s Jack Lester, each shooting 39. The two sides matched again at 41, Murphy joined by the Brothers’ David Gross, and again at 42 thanks to Peterson and CBA’s Mike Santoro.
Only here did it break in the Lakers’ favor, because Spinelli and DiRubbo again had the same scores, but improved to 44, while the Brothers had just one golfer, Chris Bushnell, on that 44 total as Joe Nicholson produced a 46.
Skaneateles made it three win in as many days on Wednesday afternoon, outlasting Mexico 226-254 despite a 40 by the Tigers’ Kyle Mosher at SCC that was the best individual round by three strokes.
Four other Lakers beat the 49 from Mexico Jack Ryan as Jones and Murphy matched each other with a 43, with Tyler Priest stepping up to shoot a 44 and Peterson adding a 46. Spinelli picked up a 50.
Finally the temperatures cooled down for the Lakers’ four-team match on Thursday at SCC, where it would welcome undefeated Westhill, along with Homer and Phoenix.
Skaneateles would shoot 229 to beat the Trojans (239) and Firebirds (295), but finish behind the Warriors’ total of 220 as Sean Dadey led Westhill with a 39, three shots ahead of Jones and Spinelli, who tied for second at 42. Peterson, with a 49, was the only other Lakers golfer to break 50.
