Boys Golf
North ends Clarence's league win streak
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North did what no other golf team in the ECIC North has been able to do in the last five years - beat Clarence.

The Spartans did just that on Thursday at Westwood Country Club, ending Clarence's 51-league match winning streak with a 296-303 victory.

"Clarence has been such a great golf team," said North coach John Burns. "(Clarence coach) Dave Johnson has done a great job with the kids there. It's always exciting to beat a team who has sort of been the model golf program for everybody else. So when you can beat them, you think OK, then maybe we're making some strides and doing the right kinds of things. I know it was fun for our kids to do that."

Burns said the difference between Thursday's match and the won held at Brookfield Country Club on Sept. 6 won by Clarence, 292-299 was that the Spartans' first four golfers - Jake Katz, E.J. Kuebler, Alex Ullrich and Cam Sroda - all shot 39.

"Pat Sheedy (of Clarence) medaled with a 38 but their other three guys were in the 40s so I knew we had a little bit of a lead before the last four came in," said Burns. "But you don't know until those final guys are in."

North is 6-3 in ECIC North Division for third place. They are scheduled to play, weather permitting at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Westwood against Amherst. The Spartans have already beaten Amherst and Sweet Home and Williamsville South twice this season. North has lost to Williamsville East twice.

"If somebody told me we would be (where we are) going into the season and knowing how strong Clarence and Williamsville East were, that we could be one of those teams once, I'd be pretty happy."

Katz leads the ECIC in 9-hole stroke average with a 35.89. He has medaled in all but two matches. Kuebler has been steady at No. 2 with a 40.3 average, good enough for a top-20 finish. Katz, Kuebler, along with Ullrich (42)

and Sroda (43) have qualified for ECICs held this coming Monday at Tan Tara Golf Club.

The Williamsville Cup, already rescheduled twice, will try to be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20 at Audubon Golf Course.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com