CENTRAL NEW YORK – Right up until Tuesday’s Section III fall tournaments, area high school boys golf teams were squeezing in matches that bad weather had postponed.
Once the moment of decision arrived, though, they were greeted by sunshine and cool temperatures, along with keen competition that nearly saw Skaneateles claim fall championships honors in the Onondaga High School League.
At Rogues Roost in Bridgeport, a few shots decided the team crown as the Lakers shot 409, just behind the 405 posted by unbeaten regular-season champion Christian Brothers Academy.
Jack Marquardt shot a 76 to finish alone in sixth place, not far from the winning 71 by Homer’s Mitch Riter, while Tyson DiRubbo landed a 79 to tie for ninth place.
Westhill finished third with a 411, just six strokes behind CBA, with a trio of top-10 finishes as Devin Young shared fourth place with a 76, while Danny Young and Aiden Ryan equaled DiRubbo’s 79.
All five of them – Marquardt, DiRubbo, Ryan and the Young brothers – were able to advance to the Section III state qualifying tournament that will take place in May.
At Drumlins, where West Genesee Gold was battling for sectional Class AA honors, the Wildcats finished with a team score of 402, just behind runner-up Cicero-North Syracuse Blue (398) as Baldwinsville, unbeaten in the regular season, pulled away for the team title in 382.
Among individuals, Jameson Bard fared best, his 82 leading to a tie for 11th place and a spot in May’s state qualifier as B’ville went 1-2 with Aiden Motala (70) and Nate MacGregor (71).
Just behind them, the trio of Ben Glass, Owen Zoanetti and Tyler Anastasio all tied for 15th with scores of 82, with Jason Clifton, Frankie Barbuto and Will Shields each posting 83. Max DeMass had an 85, as did Jake Elinich, with Kolton Castrello shooting 86 and Max Walker adding an 82.
Back on Monday, Skaneateles and Westhill had both played, and both had lost.
Skaneateles took a 210-211 defeat to Cazenovia, where Marquardt and Drew Mancini both shot 38 at Cazenovia Country Club, but trailed the 37 from the host Lakers’ Liam Colligan. Will Murphy had a 43, with Will Cowden adding a 45. Tyson DiRubbo and Henry Major both shot 46.
Westhill, meanwhile, lost 222-231 to Homer, Devin Young shooting a 39 at Camillus Golf Club and Ryan a 41, but both trailing a 37 from the Trojans’ Lukas Quinn. Grady Pens added a 45.
