For Alex Kammerer, it was an unfortunate end to a memorable round.
The Niagara-Wheatfield sophomore found himself in a playoff with Matt Petrosian of Lew-Port for Monday's Section VI golf title.
Instead, he took an eight on the par 5, 10th hole, putting back-to-back
shots in the fields to the right of the fairway. Petrosian wasn't much better taking a 7, but
it was enough to win the title.
Kammerer settled for second place in the field of 72, not a bad consolation prize.
Kammerer posted the lowest score after the first 18 holes, a 1-under 71. He had a 39 over the final 9.
"It bothers me that I kind of blew up on the playoff hole, but it really doesn't bother me
too much because I'm going to states. I'm still happy about the day," said Kammerer. "I pushed
my drive and got a real bad kick, and it pushed into the hazard. [Then] I made stupid move. I
should have made a smarter play and ended up hitting a shot back into the hazard. From there
on, it was just a disaster."
* * *
* With the win, Petrosian joins a select fraternity of Lew-Port golfers who have won Section VI golf titles. Frank Garcia won it in 1998 and Nick Morreale of the Lancers was the 1997 champion. Petrosian looks to continue his golf career as a walk-on at Division II University of Tampa.
* Lew-Port was the only team to qualify two golfers. Joining Petrosian was teammate Mike Boss, a junior. Iroquois had two make the team, but only junior Brennan Fonfara is expected to play while Kyle Kapturowski is the alternate. Fonfara birdied No. 14 twice and made a nice save on No. 15 after hitting into the hazard.
* Diamond Hawk made a big impression on some of the top finishers. Most said the greens were firm and rolled great.
* Senior Scott Brady of Olean earned his first trip to states. His round was highlighted by a 50-foot, par-saving putt on his last hole. He's taking his golf talent and ping-pong skills to St. Bonaventure in the fall.
* Austin Nowak of Lancaster returns to states after finishing 13th last year.
* Williamsville East's Sean Mahon's first 18 holes included chip-ins on No. 7 and No. 16.
* Kyle Jeziorski of Orchard Park carded an eagle on No. 9, capped with a 20-foot putt.
* How about that Niagara Frontier League with golfers finishing 1-2, on an Erie County course, no less?
* The Lancaster-Depew rivalry doesn't quite extend to golf as Andrew Romano of Depew and Austin Nowak of Lancaster have played their share of rounds together. They'll play two more at states. "Right now I'm not playing to my full potential," said Romano. "Me and Austin, gees we got so many rounds in. We actually had good weather to start the year off, but we could both play so much better."
---Mary Jo Monnin
tagged
Depew | Golf | Lancaster | Lew-Port | Niagara-Wheatfield | Olean | Orchard Park | Williamsville East
