Having won each of its first two matches, the Skaneateles boys golf team looked to continue that trend as it went through more road trips, six in all to start the season.
Down Route 20 at Orchard Valley last Monday afternoon, the Lakers faced LaFayette and, led by Ty Jones and Ben Spinelli, claimed a tight 242-243 decision over the Lancers.
Jones again claimed individual honors, his nine-hole score of 39 beating out Spinelli, whose 42 put him in second place.
LaFayette had the next three top rounds from Thomas Long (43), Nelson Jones (46) and Trevor Hill (50), and when Michael Wais posted 51 and Dylan Lyons got 53, the Lancers set a target.
To pass it, the Lakers got a 51 from Shawn Luce, followed by a 54 from Jack Whirtley. Jared Simmons required a 56 for an outright Skaneateles victory, and that’s precisely what he shot, two strokes better than Cole Kennedy’s 56.
This three-match win streak halted a day later, at Drumlins, when Skaneateles ran into Christian Brothers Academy and took a 208-236 defeat to the Brothers.
Only Jones, with a 40, finished among the top five individuals as he was second to CBA’s Joe Nicholson, who shot 37. Mike Santoro (41) and Jack MacLachlan (42) helped the Brothers pull away.
Behind them, the next-lowest Lakers round came from Jack Canty, who had a 45. Spencer Mack contributed a 49, but Spinelli struggled to a 51, the same as Luce as Will Cowden shot 55.
Skaneateles then played two matches on Wednesday – one in the morning against Cazenovia, the other in the afternoon against Westhill, and would emerge with a split.
In the Laker battle, Skaneateles beat Cazenovia 233-239, with Jones shooting 38 at Cazenovia Country Club, one ahead of Cazenovia’s Alex Moesch. Spinelli posted 41 to get third place as Luce got a 47 and Canty added a 51.
At Camillus Country Club, the Lakers fell to Westhill 220-230. Improving to a 36, Jones only trailed the Warriors’ Anthony Maglisco. Canty got third place with a 42, but four other Westhill golfer were ahead of the 48s from Spinelli and Luce.
it was quite windy and cool for the Aug. 22 season opener, where the Lakers faced Tully at Vesper Hills and had to work hard for a 238-242 victory over the Black Knights.
Basically, the two sides were similar except forJones, whose terrific nine-hole score of 35 was the best individual total by seven strokes over Tully’s Ryan Shute.
With Logan Bedford (45) and Tommy McKenna (48) doing well for Tully, it took three rounds of 50 from Luce, Spinelli and Tyson DiRubbo to help the Lakers catch up and a 53 from Jared Simmons to win it.
Then Skaneateles beat Mexico 225-239 on Aug. 24 at Emerald Crest, Jones shooting a 35 and Spinelli a 36 as DiRubbo (43) and Luce (45) were both ahead of the Tigers’ low rounds of 46 by Logan Craig and Ryan Mosher.
With this busy opening stretch done, Skaneateles could rest a bit, its only match this week a Tuesday home opener against Mexico at Skaneateles Country Club.
