Teeing Off
Local golf teams ready to vie for league titlesBy JAMES A. ELLIS, The Leader-Heald
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The high school golf season is well underway and some of the area's top golfers are sending notice that they are ready to challenge for Section II and league titles this year.
The Fonda-Fultonville Braves hit the links strong picking up three wins in the first week of competition. Clark Egelston and Mark Dietrick have set the erly pace with Dietrick already putting a sectional qualifying score in the books.
After a five-year absence, Shannon Noonan returns to coach the Braves this season.
"We have a samll group of kids out but are looking to add to the roster," he said. "We are off to a 3-0 start but there are a lot of good golfers and teams in the Western Athletic Conference again this year."
One of the teams expected to make a strong run at the WAC championship is Mayfield.
The Panthers are under the guidence of first-year varsity coach Ryan Collins, who takes over the top coaching position after being an assistant to long-time coach Ed Farhart who retired in June. The Panthers have made the move from Fox Run Golf Club to playing their home matches at Hales Mills Country Club this season.
"The team is a good mix of returning veterans and enthusiastic newcomers that have been playing together all summer in an effort to improve their game and learn a new home course," Collins said.
Seniors Mike Rose and Derrick Lyons along with sophomores Doug Brown and Patrick Glenn return to lead Mayfield. All four averaged scores in the upper-40s last season with Rose leading the way with a 45.6 scoring average.
Canajoharie coach John Sunderland is looking for the expereince gained last season by a young team to help the Cougars to be contenders in every match this season.
"That blend of experience and the addition of some new players should help us make a large leap this year to be in contention in every match and have a more successful season as far as wins and losses are concerened," he said.
Junior Taylor Macci got his season off to a fast start for the Cougars, posting a 37 in the teams opening match on the team's home course at the Canajoharie Country Club.
The Fort Plain Hilltoppers golf program continues to grow under the guidance of second-year varsity coach Sarah Maiello.
With two returning varsity players from last year's squad, the youthful Hilltoppers are concentrating on overall development through the season.
"We are very, very young," she said. "Our goal is to see steady progress each practice and match and achieve personal goals."
In the Foothills Council, the Broadalbin-Perth, Gloversville and Johnstown teams are looking to make some noise in this year's championship race.
Senior Brandon bush and junior Garrison DeRocker return to the links for the Patriots. Bush, a two-time Foothills Council all-star, three-time sectional qualifier and two-time ABCD qualifier, is playing his fifth year as a varsity starter for the Patriots. DeRocker is a three-time sectional qualifier.
"Brandon is one of the best players in Section II and Garrison is a sold number two," coach Eric Sengenberger said. "The rest of the lineup is very young but has a lot of potentional."
The Gloversville Huskies are looking to improve on their third place finish in the 2007 Foothills Council standings.
Gloversville is paced by sophomore Chris LeFever, a Foothills Council first team all-star selection last year, who averaged rounds of 40 against league competition in 2007. Seniors Joe LaPorta and Andrew Ficilli return to anchor the team's varsity. Both averaged rounds of 42 in league competition last year.
"Our key returning playes have demonstrated great leadership so far and hope to lead our team in competition for a league championship," coach Mark LeFever said.
The Johnstown Sir Bills look to continue to improve this season with a solid core of returning players led by team MVP Jeff Erwin, D.J. Ioele, Mark Gillen, Dalton Dingman, Cam Husain, Adam Kline. Gillen and Dingman are the lone seniors among the returners.
"We may not be able to beat the big teams yet, but as far as with the young players we have on the team, we are laying the ground work for a couple of really strong year," ninth-year varsity coach Mark Ralbovsky said.
The Amsterdam Rams placed fourth in the Big 10 last season with T.J. Sumigray earning league medalist honors.
Sumigray graduated, but Rams, coach Donna Nevulis said her team is ready to face the Big 10 competition.
"I am hoping to better than we did last year," she said. "We should fare well in the Big 10 where there are alot of good teams again this year. We hope to have some players earn qualifying spots in sectionals."
Chris Mathewson, Dave Hughes and Mike Pryzblowicz return to the links for the Rams, who play their home matches at Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course.
