The nine-player boys golf state team for Section 4 was determined Saturday at Elmira’s Mark Twain Golf Course and Maine-Endwell freshman Blaise Brixner led the charge.
Brixner shot a final-round 4-over-par 76 after firing a 79 during Thursday’s opening round to take medalist honors with a two-day score of 155.
Grady Glennon of Hunter-Tannersville and Trevor Warpus of Chenango Forks finished one shot back at 156, followed by Union-Endicott’s Dante Bertoni and Vestal’s Bennett Snyder at 159.
The rest of the Section 4 state team will include Corning’s Jack Creath and Nishant Lahiri, Lansing’s Hunter Baughan and Candor’s Jacob Banks.
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Mark Twain, a Donald Ross-designed course, will host the New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys golf championships for the second year in a row June 4 and 5.
Brixner’s path to first place
Last year Brixner missed out on the state tournament by one stroke. This time around he had that berth well in hand by the time he stepped onto the 18th green. A few minutes later he discovered his score topped the field, which was reduced from 36 to 20 players after Thursday’s round.
Brixner had six bogeys and two birdies for his 76, one shot behind Glennon for the top score of the day.
“I was definitely happy to be a medalist, especially after not qualifying last year,” Brixner said. “I was one stroke away last year, so to be able to play pretty well this year is pretty cool.
“I started off on the first day not playing too great, just kind of struggling. Today I went out and started really well. Had four bogeys in a row, but ended up closing out well to put me one stroke ahead.”
A significant wind and greens described by Brixner as “super tricky, super fast” made for challenging conditions Saturday. Brixner hit only three fairways and missed more greens than he would have liked, so keeping it straight will be a priority when he returns for the state tournament.
Corning adds to strong fall season
Boys golfers in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference play in the fall and qualifiers return for the medalist tournament. Only Corning will send multiple golfers to states from Section 4, not a shock given the Hawks went 15-1 in the fall and handed the STAC tournament and Section 4 Class A champion Union-Endicott its lone loss.
Four Corning golfers qualified for the medalist tournament, with Luke Mayfield and Will Davis joining Lahiri and Creath.
“All four of these guys put their mark on the program and obviously Jack Creath and Nishant Lahiri are taking it to the next level all the way to the state tournament,” Corning coach Chris Clark said.
Clark added it’s very impressive to have two of his players among Section 4’s nine headed to states.
“Two years ago this group of kids that’s with me right here, two of these kids were part of the first-ever sectional championship for the Corning Hawks,” Clark said. “As great of a history as Corning has had in this sport, never won a sectional title until two years ago and Nishant and Jack were big parts of that. Actually, Jack Creath was the medalist at that team tournament two years ago with a 73 . I think it goes to show the legacy of all four I started with on Thursday.”
Looking forward to the state tourney
Bertoni, a junior, was the top Section 4 finisher at the 2022 state tournament, tying for 13th with a two-round score of 149. He won the STAC individual title at Mark Twain in October.
Among other Section 4 golfers who earned return trips to states, Baughan tied for 53rd last year and Banks was 69th.
Warpus has played well at Mark Twain. Along with this week’s finish, he finished second behind Bertoni at the fall STAC tourney.
Ithaca’s JT Thomforde tied for 33rd last year at states, but an opening-round 88 cost him a chance to return. He bounced back with an 81 on Saturday.
Final-round Results
(Elmira’s Mark Twain Golf Course, par-72)
Blaise Brixner, Maine-Endwell, 79-76–155
Grady Glennon, Hunter-Tannersville, 81-75–156
Trevor Warpus, Chenango Forks, 78-78–156
Dante Bertoni, Union-Endicott, 79-80–159
Bennett Snyder, Vestal, 79-80–159
Hunter Baughan, Lansing, 83-79–162
Jack Creath, Corning, 81-81–162
Nishant Lahiri, Corning, 79-83–162
Jacob Banks, Candor, 79-85–164
Aiden Gelbsmann, Oneonta, 80-87–167
Taylor Brock, Candor, 84-84–168
Sam Ligas, Binghamton, 87-81–168
Brady Magliocca, Elmira, 87-81–168
Parker Flanagan, Greene, 87-82–169
Justin Alvord, Vestal, 88-81–169
JT Thomforde, Ithaca, 88-81–169
Will Davis, Corning, 87-84–171
Christian Macan, Union-Endicott, 84-90–174
Joe Underwood, Maine-Endwell, 84-93–177
Michael Culver, Union Springs, 86-91–177
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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Results from Section 4 boys golf medalist tourney at Mark Twain