In years past, what the West Genesee boys golf team did in the regular season was important, but served as a prelude to far more success once the Section III tournament rolled around.
The same pattern is forming in 2019, with the Wildcats absorbing regular-season defeats like the one it took last Monday at Lakeshore, when it fell 200-219 to Cicero-North Syracuse Blue.
Ryan Joyce shot a 43, with Kevin McDermott, Peyton Mullane, Jake Weaver and Ryan McLane each finishing at 44. All of them trailed the top five C-NS Blue players, who posted 42 or lower, led by Ryan Sisco’s 37 and Jake Nardozza’s 38.
What followed for WG were back-to-back matches on Wednesday and Thursday against Baldwinsville. The first match, at Westvale,was a close, well-played match on both ends, but the Wildcats lost, 187-191, to the Bees.
The rematch at Timber Banks on Thursday was not as close, B’ville prevailing again 182-203 in large part due to four different players – Tanner Glavin, Alex Pompo, Billy Guild and Aiden Farmer – each shooting 36.
Kevin McDermott was close behind them, leading WG with a 37, while Dan Benetti shot a 39. Mullane could only manage a 40 as Ryan Will earned a 43 and Joyce shot 44. McLane (46), Weaver (50) and Connor Christie (47) were behind them.
Westhill entered the week at 5-0 and atop the OHSL Liberty American division standings, reinforcing that spot last Tuesday by defeating LaFayette 215-237 at Camillus Hills.
Once again, Anthony Maglisco paced the Warriors, though his 40 was just one better than the Lancers’ Brandon Pope. Luke Gilmartin and Mike Britt provided the depth, each shooting 42, while Devin Young had a 47 and Nate Donnelly contributed a 49.
Then Westhill edged Tully in a 222-223 thriller last Thursday at Vesper Hills. Without Maglisco in the lineup, Gilmartin led the Wrriors with a 40, while Aidan Ryan had a 43, just ahead of Britt’s 44. James Hunt got a 45 and Keegan Bryant’s 50 helped Westhill hang on.
Skaneateles finally had its first home match of the season Thursday, taking on Homer at Skaneateles Country Club following eight consecutive road contests.
Glad to be home, the Lakers routed the Trojans 226-306 as Tynan Jones again led the way, posting a 38. Tyson DiRubbo got a 43 as Shawn Luce shot a 46, Drew Henderson had a 48 and Will Cowden added a 51.
The last of those road matches took place a day earlier, at Drumlins, when Skaneateles challenged Christian Brothers Academy and had solid rounds from its top players, but could not match the Brothers’ depth in a 206-223 defeat.
Just as he would against Homer, Jones shot 38 to edge CBA’s Joe Nicholson (39) for individual honors. Luce’s 40 matched that of the Brothers’ Jack MacLachlan as DiRubbo’s 42 was just behind the 41 from CBA’s Dan Angelo.
However, no other Laker was close to those totals, Cowden settling for a 50 and Henderson a 53, well back of the 42 from CBA’s Ryan McLaughlin and 44 from his teammate, Ryan Wendt.
