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Sullivan West’s boys and girls golf teams post wins at Villa Roma

By RICHARD A. ROSS

CALLICOON, NY — The brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures were inviting to golfers as the Eldred girls and Tri-Valley boys traveled to take on Sullivan West’s teams on April 27. Eldred arrived with an unblemished 3-0 record, having beaten Monticello, Ellenville and Roscoe, but, by day’s end, the Ladies of the West, who came in at 2-1, equaled Eldred’s record by posting a 156-187 win over the Lady Yellow Jackets. Jillian Fife, Claire Stabbert and Meg Calkin each scored 52 on the par 35 segment.

Melissa Westfall was Eldred’s top golfer on the day with a 53.

The greens were in fine shape as it felt more like May and less like February, a welcome change from earlier matches this month.

Sullivan West’s only loss thus far came against Monticello on one of those frosty days. The Lady Bulldogs avenged that loss on April 30 as they edged the Lady Monties 170-172. Eldred downed Roscoe and then lost to James I. O’Neill later in the week.

Team records: Sullivan West 4-1 (4-1 OCIAA); Eldred 4-2 (4-2 OCIAA).

Dawgs’ best diminish Tri-Valley and Liberty and lose to Eldred

Still rehabilitating his knee from this past winter when he tore his ACL skiing, Tri-Valley’s John Bernstein wishes he could lend his fine golfing skills to the cause. Needless to say, his absence has dramatically diminished Tri-Valley’s edge, which has kept them just behind Sullivan West in division play over recent years. Bernstein is there in spirit and spent the day on the putting green, while his teammates went off on the front nine to wrangle with the Bulldogs, who return four top golfers in a quest for their sixth straight division title. Back this year are Justin Armstrong, Kevin Correa, Artie Norden and Melanie Kleiner. The top five in this match included up-and-coming Drew Billard.

Last year, Armstrong, Correa and Norden made the cut at the OCIAA championships and qualified for the Section Nine tourney. Armstrong finished fifth in Section Nine, earning his first trip to states. He will be attending Division II Goldey Beacom College on the outskirts of Wilmington, DE in the fall. Kleiner will be playing for Division I Rutgers.

For Tri-Valley, the loss of Dave McDonald and John Benevides to graduation was costly. Now with Bernstein still on the mend, the disparity in the score between the two rival schools was understandably far greater than a year ago.

Norden led the charge for the Bulldogs with a three over par 38. Armstrong, Corrrea and Kleiner each shot a seven over 42. Billard scored an impressive 43. Jimmy Bernstein shot a 43 to lead Tri-Valley. Ryan Mickelson and Weston Currey shot 45. Jarryd Killian shot 66 and Connor Walsh fired 60.

Tri-Valley fell to 2-3 (1-1 OCIAA). A day later, Sullivan West beat Liberty 251-277. But the next day, Eldred (5-2, 5-1 OCIAA) shocked Sullivan West by downing the Bulldogs 237-244 at Swan Lake. Sullivan West (8-2, 7-1 OCIAA) recorded its first league loss of the season and its first division loss in recent years. The Bulldogs’ only other loss this season came in its opener against Goshen.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of boys and girls golf photos.