H.S. BOYS' GOLF: PRINTUP SHOOTS 82 IN RETURN TO COURSE; 3 LOCALS ADVANCE TO SATUREY IN MEDALIST TOURNEY (22 PHOTOS) (2022-05-19)

Southern Tier Sports Report
ELMIRA — In the fall Matt Printup had his golf season cut short due to a shoulder surgery.

The Horseheads senior had surgery late in the fall and was just cleared a week ago to get back on the course.

On Thursday he was back competing for the Blue Raiders, shooting an 82 at the Section IV Medalist Tournament at Mark Twain Golf Course to help him advance to Saturday.

Printup sits tied for seventh after round one, and the top nine golfers after Saturday qualify for states.

“I was very pleased,” Horseheads coach Ed Browning said. “It takes some mental strength to play a competitive round coming off a major shoulder injury, and I thought he did an awesome job.”

Printup was one of three area golfers to qualify for Saturday, along with Corning’s Nishant Lahiri and Luca Neally.

Lahiri shot an 87 and Neally shot an 88 on Thursday. Both were among the top 20 golfers after day one.

In the fall the Hawks had a dominant season, winning the program’s first STAC title this year, but on Thursday things didn’t go exactly how the Hawks had hoped. However, both Neally and Lahiri both still have a chance to come back Saturday and get themselves to states.

“The Corning kids did not play the way they did during the season,” Corning coach Chris Clark said. “All three were very disappointed. Right now Nishant and Luca are both outside of that top nine. Both guys have the fire power to come back on Saturday and shoot a score in the 70s to make a run at one of those top nine spots.

“Today was pretty cool and wet, Saturday is going to be hot and dry and fast conditions at Mark Twain. I think whatever nine kids can make that adjustment from today to Saturday are going to be the ones to advance. I”m hoping the Corning kids can make those adjustments.”

Evan Hatch shot a 95 for Horseheads and Luke Mayfield shot a 93 for Corning.

Neally is in the first group on Saturday, with Lansing’s Kenton Edwards, teeing off at 9 a.m. Lahiri is in the second pairing, with Taylor Brock of SVEC and Brandon Vanacore of Southern Cayuga, teeing off at 9:08 a.m.

Printup tees off at 9:32 in the third group out with Justin Wardell of Chenango Valley and J.T. Thomforde of Ithaca.
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IN TOP PHOTO: Horseheads’ Matt Printup watches his drive on Thursday. . . PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES