BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports Report
HORSEHEADS — It wasn’t the start that Delaney Abel wanted, but she finished strong on her way to a third sectional championship in four years at the girls’ golf sectional championship at Soaring Eagles.
“I felt alright, some of the putts definitely did not fall,” Abel said. “I thought my ball striking was pretty good once I got to the back nine. The front nine was not my game, but other than that I felt pretty good.
“My front nine, the first couple of holes were good. Then 7, 8, 9 was definitely rough going into the back, but then I picked it up on the back nine.”
Abel wound up two-over par 73, to win the tournament by six shots over Teagan Mahoney of Hunter-Tannersville.
Mahoney actually led by one shot at the turn.
“It was definitely nice to run it around,” Abel said. “But, if I’m not going to win I wanted her to win, but it felt pretty good to get my game back. It definitely felt good being able to be more aggressive.”
Playing with players like Mahoney just made Abel better.
“It definitely helps,” Abel said. “The better girls you play with the better you are bound to play. It’s just how the game works, so it’s just nice being able to have better girls in the group.”
Abel leads the state contingent, which includes Horseheads’ Jemma Randall. Randall finished eighth with a round of 100. The top nine qualify for states.
“Jemma has spent the last months really applying her natural talent to the game,” Horseheads coach Christine Fischer said. “Each day her endless work ethic and desire to learn and hone those skills has really paid off. Her performance today ebbed and flowed, much like golf can be. However, her grit and determination quickly allowed her to persevere and to overcome the obstacles in order to maintain her round and quality for the Section IV State Team with pride.
“Jemma is both humbled and thrilled to be a part of the upcoming state tournament. It is a fantastic opportunity as a sophomore and the atmosphere and experience will be very special. Myself, as her coach and teacher, could not be more proud to see and support her in this position. She is both deserving and highly capable. It has been an honor to coach her and the Horseheads girls’ golf team, beginning this year. Raider Nation is very excited to see what the post season continues to bring. Let’s go, Jemma!”
Corning finished second as a team at 413, just two shots behind winners Lansing at 411. Horseheads was fifth at 436. Marathon was seven shots back from Lansing at 418 and Vestal shot 433.
Ellie Padgett of Horseheads just missed states by a shot, finishing tied for 11th at 102. Harper Abel of Corning was just one shot back of that at 103. Lydia Rockwell of Horseheads shot a 108 to finished tied for 15th.
Tess Barber of Corning tied for 23rd with a 114 and Notre Dame’s Emma Steed was 33rd at 118. Kamryn Fusare of Corning was 43rd at 123 and Lacey Titsworth of Horseheads was tied for 46th at 126. Notre Dame’s Sabrina O’Connor was tied for 52nd at 130 and Zoe Martin of Corning was 55th at 132. Caroline Welch of Corning was 62nd at 147.
The course was tough on Thursday with wind gusts making things more difficult for everyone.
“The wind was awful, it’s blowing pretty badly out here,” Abel said. “It’s definitely worse on the back nine then it was on the front.”
While the wind impacted her game Abel knows it was really her putting that she had to pick up as the round went on.
“My putting was definitely the biggest problem today,” she said. “But, I’d say some my wedges got taken by the wind, which was unfortunate, but it was definitely my putting overall.”
Now It’s back to states for Abel, where she led after round one last year and ended up finishing third.
“There are a lot of really good girls at states,” Abel said. “Obviously last year I was third. I definitely feel confidence going into states.”
And, playing on team New York this year, which is a group of the states best competing against other states, only prepares her more for states.
“It’s a great opportunity,” she said. “Because some of these girls I hardly get to see and now I get to see all the time, which is fantastic.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM SECTIONALS
