Sectional Golf: Plainsmen earn repeat

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bob Weiner

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Depth paid off again for the Shenendehowa High School golf team.

The Plainsmen repeated as

Section II Class A team champions when sophomore Bobby McCarthy, the No. 5 player in the lineup, carded a three-over-par 75. That helped the Plainsmen shoot a 15-over-par 303 to clip Niskayuna (310) by seven shots at Town of Colonie Golf Course.

Bethlehem Central’s Victor Fox won medalist honors with a 71, while Shaker High School’s Bailey Cocca became the only female to make the cut for next week’s ABCD playoffs at Orchard Creek with a 78.

Only the top four scores counted in team competition, and the Plainsmen were able to include D.J. Tozier (75), McCarthy, Alex Kinkaid (76) and Jimmy Greg (77) among their six players participating.

“I knew we’d be competitive,” said Shenendehowa coach Chris Douglas. “It was just a question of whether you happen to play well that day and get some good bounces. Depth was definitely key for us. We had our No. 5 come up big.”

“I was hitting the ball very well today, and although I didn’t keep the ball out of the woods all the time, I was happy with the way I played,” said McCarthy. “I liked the way the greens rolled, and I liked the way the course was set up. I enjoyed it. I only had 29 putts today, and that’s extraordinary for me.”

McCarthy’s only birdie was on the third hole on the white nine, but he said he was able to get up and down for par on numerous occasions to keep his round going.

While McCarthy’s effort was a relative surprise, Tozier’s wasn’t.

“I stuck to my game plan,” said Tozier. “It was very windy out there today, and it was also very muddy. I just played to my strengths. It was important to have solid ball-striking, and focus on hitting the fairways and greens in these kinds of conditions.”

Tozier had two birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey.

“I hit my ball into the trees on the sixth hole on the blue nine, and I couldn’t get back out to the fairway on my first try,” he said. “I eventually punched out and two-putted for a double. It was a very disappointing six, but I regrouped. I’ve been playing well lately in my school matches, and I’m very excited about next week.”

“It will be very interesting what happens next week,” said Douglas. “Everyone will be playing from the blue tees at Orchard Creek, and it will be more challenging. Everything to this point has been for the team. Now, it’s an individual competition.”

Jon Farah’s 74 led Niskayuna second-place effort.

“My putter was red-hot all the way around,” he said. “My only birdie was on the second hole on the blue nine, but I made a lot of up-and-down pars because of my putter. The wind and the mud made things very challenging out there. I was able to keep my tee shot in play by keeping the ball low.”

Fox continued his torrid play this season. He’s posted lows of 30 and 31 for nine holes during the regular season for Bethlehem Central.

Fox had three birdies and two bogeys. He only had one three-putt for bogey, but three-putted two par-5s after reaching them in two and settled for par.

Players needed to score a seven-over-par 79 or better to qualify for the individual sectional qualifier next week.

Shaker’s Bailey Cocca, a two-time New York State Girls Amateur champion, shot a 78, and will be making her first appearance in that qualifier.

“I was worried there for a while,” said Cocca, who is looking at

UAlbany as her college choice for next season. “My only birdie was on the sixth hole, but I made a lot of pars and stayed out of trouble. I’m happy to finally make the sectionals.”

Broadalbin-Perth won the Class B title with a 359, a stroke ahead of Scotia-Glenville. Alex Gibson of Glens Falls was the medalist with an 81.

CLASS A

Team scores: Shenendehowa 303, Niskayuna 310, Shaker 311, Albany Academy 318, Saratoga Springs 319, Bethlehem 319, Ballston Spa 332, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 332, LaSalle 335, Queensbury 336, Columbia 346, Guilderland 347, Christian Brothers Academy 359, Colonie 375, Amsterdam 376.

Qualifiers — Victor Fox (Bethlehem) 71, Jon Farah (Niskayuna) 74, Calvin Beckwith (Saratoga Springs) 75, D.J. Tozier (Shenendehowa), Bobby McCarthy (Shenendehowa), Zack Scala (Ballston Spa) 76, Davis Jensen (Shaker) 76, Hunter Donovan (Shaker 76, Alex Kinkaid (Shenendehowa) 77, Aaron Simone (Niskayuna) 77, Jimmy Greg (Shenendehowa) 77, Tim LaSarso (Queensbury) 78, Devin Coffey (Saratoga Springs) 78, Bailey Cocca (Shaker) 78, Austin Teal (Albany Academy) 79, Justin Brock (Albany Academy) 7 9, Jeff Palmerino (Bethlehem) 79, David Wellington (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) 79, Dylan Gladd (Columbia) 79, Luke Goldstock (Niskayuna) 79, Christian Flemming (Saratoga Springs) 79.

CLASS B

Team scores: Broadalbin-Perth 359, Scotia-Glenville 360, Johnstown 364, Catskill 408, South Glens Falls 415.

Qualifiers — Alex Gibson (Glens Falls) 81, Jacob Rounds (Broadalbin-Perth) 83, David Renko (Scotia-Glenville) 83, Cody Husek (Broadalbin-Perth) 83, Cory Purcell (Catholic Central) 84, Joey Kilmartin (Ichabod Crane) 84, Ryan Lynch (Schalmont) 84, Quinion Washburn (South Glens Falls) 86, Mitch Vdoviak (Johnstown) 86.

CLASS C-D

Team scores: Voorheesville 346, Coxsackie-Athens 377.

Qualifiers — S.J. McDermott (Granville) 76, Matt Parrottino (Voorheesville) 7 9, Kyle Preusser (Taconic Hills) 82, Elliott Hansen (Greenwich) 83, Josh Manko (Sharon Springs) 84, Grace Ziamandanis (Voorheesville) 85, David Malfetano (Voorheesville) 85, Connor LeClair (Coxsackie-Athens) 86, Evan Ottman (Schoharie) 86.