Golf

Quiet hijinks on the links

Sullivan West gets its sixth win; Liberty’s Goldstein shoots one over par

By RICHARD A. ROSS

CALLICOON, NY — The laws of physics tell us that what goes up must come down. But Sullivan West golf coach Bob Fife and his boys golf team are challenging that law of gravity, graphically demonstrated by Sir Isaac Newton when an apple fell on his head.

Fife, who was running down the basketball court in gym class, went down with a torn Achilles tendon after getting a rebound while going one on one with Dawg standout Rachel Houghtaling.

But you can’t keep a good man down.

Fife recently overcame the injury and started back with his golf-coaching career well into its second decade, proving Newton’s adage to be flawed: What went down, went up.

The unflappable Fife recently garnered his 100th golf-coaching win.

Fife’s defending Division IV champion Bulldogs, who finished last year with an unblemished league record, were supposed to be down this season. After all, standouts Ben Kleiner and Kenny Rhodes graduated and the Dawgs lost two fine golfers. Kleiner was one of Section Nine’s elite that went on to states. But somebody forgot to tell this year’s squad that they were supposed to be less of a contender.

Sullivan West, which rose to the heights of its division in 2007, is still up there.

So much for physics: What went up, stayed up.

With its 225-266 win over Liberty at the Villa Roma on April 15, Sullivan West improved to a spiffy 6-1 (4-0 OCIAA). With its sole loss coming against Class A Cornwall, the Bulldogs added Liberty to its growing list of spring victims, which include Eldred, The Family School, Roscoe, Goshen and James I. O’Neill.

As was the case in 2007, Tri-Valley looks to be the main bone of contention for Sullivan West if they wish to continue to defy the laws of gravity. Last year, the Bears’ only Division IV losses were to the Bulldogs. The two teams will meet at the Villa Roma on April 28 and at Tarry Brae on May 9, the day after the Bulldogs have their rematch with Liberty at Grossingers.

Playing without Melanie Kleiner, who had a dentist appointment, Sullivan West held its edge over Liberty, which possesses one of the top golfers in Section Nine in senior Josh Goldstein. It’s early spring and the weather hasn’t been cooperating; Sullivan County golfers are a little behind the curve of their Orange County counterparts.

But that didn’t stop Goldstein from firing the day’s best one over par 36. Sullivan West’s Justin Armstrong led the Bulldogs with a three over par 38. Liberty’s problem over the past years has been depth. It’s hard to win without at least two or, better yet, three top golfers. Although Goldstein is one of the finest, he can’t do it alone, something first-year coach John Napolitano fully understands.

It’s been 12 years since Napolitano roamed the sidelines coaching Valley Central’s daunting football team. But the greens hold great familiarity to the lifelong golfer, who hopes to lend his years of experience to his younger golfers. Win or lose, it’s going to be fun for him and for them.

Expect Goldstein to be near the top of the leaderboard at the OCIAA championships and beyond. Armstrong should be there, too, but with Sullivan West’s depth he’s likely to not be alone.

Sullivan West’s Kevin Correa shot a 43 and Artie Norden pitched in with a 44 to round out the Bulldogs’ top three.

Liberty’s Ryan Barber (51) and Tom Fix (57) are out to learn the game this spring.

Liberty (0-2, 0-2 OCIAA) will host Tri-Valley at Grossingers on April 17 and then take on Fallsburg at Tarry Brae on April 21.

Sullivan West will host Fallsburg on April 17 and then travel to take on Monticello at Kutshers on April 22.

Results were as follows:

Sullivan West: Justin Armstrong, 38; Kevin Correa, 43; Artie Norden, 44; Mike Schmidt, 49; and Mike Hahn, 51.

Liberty: Josh Goldstein, 36; Ryan Barber, 51; Tom Fix, 57; Brandon Reeves, 59; and Austin McVicker, 63.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of match pictures.