CENTRAL NEW YORK – When the West Genesee girls golf team teed off the local spring season for area high schools on April 14, it did so amid warm sunshine and temperatures close to 90 degrees.
By the time Westhill and Marcellus got underway early last week, though, it was closer to the freezing point, yet another reminder of the challenges golfers face in Central New York.

WG’s opener was a 177-221 defeat to Cicero-North Syracuse at Westvale where Sophia Simiele shot a 49, but six Northstars matched or beat that total, led by Jessica Ricciardi’s 41. Mia Barbuto shot 52, just ahead of Madalyn Lauricella and Allison Lamberton, who both posted 53.

It got closer last Wednesday against Baldwinsville, yet WG still lost 136-142 to the Bees as, on a shortened Westvale layout, Barbuto shot 32 and Simiele a 33, but it trailed Julia Quinn’s 31 for B’ville as it had three more totals ahead of Olivia Snyder’s 37. Lamberton and Analise Straub both shot 40.

Marcellus, meanwhile, lost 186-222 to Christian Brothers Academy at Tuscarora last Monday, though Allison Coombs finished third among individuals.
Coombs had a 49, not far from Hana Kang’s 45 but well back of an impressive 37 by CBA’s Grace Catalano. Genevieve Formoza and Sofia Tufenkjian tied for fourth with a 51, while Claire Curtin shot 65.

Westhill was able to win, though, in last Tuesday’s match against Chittenango at Camillus Golf, a 247-257 decision where Charlotte Roth, with a 54, and Samantha Burkett, with a 59, were the only golfers on either side to break 60. Kaelyn Rudd led the Bears with a 64.

Then Westhill had its own match with CBA on Thursday and lost, 177-272, with Burkett (66) and Annabelle Cecile (67) well back of the 41 from Kang and 42 from Catalano.

A day later, Westhill rolled past Bishop Grimes 217-255. Roth’s 48 trailed the 47 from the Cobras’ Ashley Ince, but Kaitlin Kenrich (54) was third, Burkett shot 55 and Cecile added a 60 to round out the top five.

The Marcellus boys team maintains a spring schedule and opened last Thursday at Sunset Ridge by rolling to a 227-277 victory over Bishop Grimes.

Will Glass and Ben Reome both shot 43 to lead the Mustangs, with Elliot Austin getting a 45 and John Williams a 46. Landon Kelly’s 50 was just behind the 49 from Grimes’ Dom Kensey.