ATHENS FINISHES SECOND, 1 STROKE BEHIND SAYRE

By: Tim Birney  /  August 25, 2021  /  Photo: Lance Larcom

WAVERLY — Sayre, led by low medalist senior Kannon VanDuzer, and Athens finished 1-2 in the opening NTL golf match of the season here on a steamy Wednesday afternoon at The Club at Shepard Hills.

“I was proud of the way the kids played today,” said Sayre coach Jamie VanDuzer. “The heat was brutal, so I think a few got tired by the end.

“Our new guys played pretty good for their first time out,” he noted. “Most are nervous not knowing how the matches work, but I felt they settled in and did OK.

“I think other than Kannon (VanDuzer), the team wasn’t too pleased with their scores, and feel they will score better going forward.

“The league looks to be down score-wise, but the top 10 or 15 should be pretty competitive,“ added VanDuzer. “It will be fun.”

The Redskins shot a four-man aggregate score of 377, edging out the Wildcats by 1 stroke. Wellsboro was third in with a 382, while Wyalusing was fourth with a 399, Towanda was fifth at 440, Cowanesque was sixth at 444, and North Penn-Mansfield was seventh at 481.

VanDuzer shot a 79 on the 5,695-yard, par-72 course, including an even-par 35 on the back nine. He birdied the 100-yard, par-3 16th hole, and the 447-yard, par-5 18th hole to finish off his day.

NP-M junior Andrew Green was second for the day with an 83, while junior Cam Sullivan led Athens with an 88 to finish third.

Athens sophomore Evan Cooper finished fifth with a 92, and freshman Dylan Saxon was eighth with a 94, while junior Lucas Kraft was 17th with a 104, and freshman Sean Clare was 20th with a non-scoring round of 105.

Sayre senior Dylan Seck was 11th with a round of 96, while junior Colton Watkins was 15th with a 99, and junior Colton Watkins was 16th with a 103.

Seniors Josh Arnold and Dom Fabbri added non-scoring rounds of 108 for the Redskins.