Golf

Stating his case

By RICHARD A. ROSS

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — “‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said, ‘to talk of many things,’” wrote Lewis Carroll in “Through the Looking Glass.” For Sullivan West’s Justin Armstrong, the main thing to talk about now is another chance to come up big, as he peers ahead through the looking glass to the New York State boys golf championships at Cornell University on June 1 and 2.

A year ago, Armstrong made it to states for the first time, but he was far from satisfied with his performance. He shot 170 and tied for 75th place. This year, having won the OCIAA title, Armstrong entered the Section Nine tourney looking to place in the top nine to punch his ticket back to the big dance.

Mission accomplished.

Armstrong tied for fifth in the Section Nine tourney with a 74-77-151.

Armstrong is in good company, as he joins Section Nine leader Andrew DeForest from Rondout Valley, Jeff Schaller of Kingston, Nick DePalma of Wallkill, Nick Johnson of Cornwall, Colby Lewis of Monroe-Woodbury, Eric Seitz of Wallkill, Ryan Metzger of Warwick and Hans Schute of Rondout Valley.

The state cut of 155 was the lowest since 2004.

Six golfers qualified for the first time, including seniors Johnston, Metzger of Warwick and Schulte.

The Section 9 golf champions who qualified for the state match include: Andrew DeForest (Rondout Valley), 69-70-139; Jeff Schaller (Kingston), 73-72-145; Nick DePalma (Wallkill), 69-77-146; Nick Johnston (Cornwall), 76-73-149; Justin Armstrong (Sullivan West), 74-77-151; Colby Lewis (Monroe-Woodbury), 76-75-151; Eric Seitz (Wallkill), 74-77-151; Ryan Metzger (Warwick), 80-75-155; and Hans Schulte (Rondout Valley), 79-76-155.

Armstrong advances to second round of Section Nine tourney

CALLICOON, NY — Sullivan West senior Justin Armstrong advanced to the second round of the Section Nine golf championships after firing a 36-38-74. Armstrong was tied for second after the front nine, just two strokes behind Rondout Valley’s Andrew DeForest.

By day’s end, Armstrong was tied for third with Wallkill’s Eric Seitz, five strokes behind DeForest and Wallkill’s Nick DePalma and one stroke back of Kingston’s Jeff Schaller.

DeForest and DePalma each ended the day at two under 69. DeForest had four birdies and an eagle (par-5, No. 8), and shot a 3 under 33 on the back nine. He eagled the 15th hole (-5).

Armstrong was one of four Sullivan County golfers in the tourney, including teammate Melanie Kleiner, Fallsburg’s Rich Elliott and Eldred’s Jon Geiger. All three missed the cut. The top 20 advance to Casperkill Country Club in Poughkeepsie on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. for round two.

In the first round at Villa Roma, Callicoon, par 71, those who did not make the cut included Rich Elliott (Fallsburg), 43-42-85; Melanie Kleiner (Sullivan West), 41-46-87; and Jon Geiger (Eldred), 46-55-101.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of photos from round one.