Boys Golf
Katz tied for third at ECICs
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North senior Jake Katz shot a 76 to tie for third place at the ECIC Boys Golf Championships at Springville Country Club on Monday. File photo

Williamsville North's Jake Katz hadn't touch a golf club in a couple of weeks so he was thrilled to tie for third at Monday's ECIC Boys Golf Championships at Springville Country Club.

Katz shot a 5-over 76 with rounds of 37 and 39 to tie Clarence's Pat Sheedy. Clarence's Matt Stasiak won the tournament with a 70. Orchard Park's Rob Smith was second with a 75.

"For not playing in a couple of weeks, I was actually hitting the ball pretty good," said Katz. "But I had four bogeys in a row on the back nine which kind of hurt my score. I also didn't make any putts."

Katz said he and Stasiak were tied after the tenth hole but he missed a 2-foot birdie on the eleventh-hole and Stasiak birdied.

Because he qualified for the New York State Championships last spring, Katz already automatically qualified for the Section VI Championships held next May at Brierwood Country Club.

Katz did edge Stasiak for the ECIC scoring title, 35.8 to 37.8.

E.J. Kuebler also qualified for sectionals with an 82. Cameron Sroda (87), Matt Sweeney (88), and Alex Ullrich (92) did not qualify.

ECICs were supposed to be held Oct. 16, then Oct. 23 at Tan Tara Country Club but was moved to Springville because the course was not playable. Katz was very surprised at the conditions of the course.

"It felt like almost 60 to 65 degrees," he said. "The balls were rolling in the fairways."

"The conditions were in great shape," added North coach John Burns. "It was pretty dry. The greens were fast. It wasn't that windy out. The temperatures were in the 50's. We lucked out to finally get this in."

North finished 6-3 overall, including a win over Clarence to end their 51-match league win streak.

"It was a great year," said Burns. "Anytime you have a winning record it's a positive. It's a treat to have Jake the last three years for myself and the other kids to watch. You don't get kids like him every day."

Williamsville East

The Flames sent seven golfers to ECICs and two qualified for sectionals. Justin Cardon was exempt. Eighth grader Sean Mahon shot an 84 to also advance. The cut was 86.

"For him to qualify shows his commitment in the offseason," said East coach David Delsanti of Mahon. "He's a member at Tan Tara. He played in all kinds of tournaments over the summer and it's all paying off now."

Andrew Ross (87), Kyle Smith (89), Joe LaPoint (91), David Kausch (91) and Billy Gaffney also competed.

Cardon was the team's scoring champion with a 39.88. He averaged 4.43 per hole in league play. Kausch was named most improved player. Ross won the coaches' award.

East finished 6-3 overall.

"The kids played really well," said Delisanti. "It was not as good as we anticipated but it was not due to a lack of effort. We ran into Clarence and we lost to South."

Cardon and David Rundell were named captains for the 2007 season. Seniors Adam Burtch, Eric Burtch, Mark Chaskas, Josh De- Marco and eighth grader Danny Yustin should also contribute next year, Delisanti said.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com