Recap and results of 2025 STAC boys golf championships

Maine-Endwell wrapped up the fall season with a sweep of team and individual titles at the Southern Tier Athletic Conference boys golf championship tournament at Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira on Oct. 14.

The Spartans repeated as team champion by six strokes behind senior Blaise Brixner, who earned STAC medalist honors Tuesday for the second time in the last three seasons.

Cumulative score for Maine-Endwell was 393, six strokes better than runner-up Binghamton. Full teams included division champions Elmira, Binghamton, Seton Catholic Central and Norwich, along with wild cards M-E and Oneonta.

Brixner fired a 1-over-par 73 at the Donald Ross-designed course to finish two strokes ahead of runner-up Brady McManus of Binghamton.

“All of our guys on the team are super close, so it’s cool to be able to win as a team and all play really well together,” Brixner said of the repeat.

Vestal’s Teddy Brosius and Johnny Gorman tied for third with 76s.

Maine-Endwell seniors add to legacy

Brixner is one of four seniors on Maine-Endwell’s roster, part of the first group to play for coach Rob Krowiak from seventh grade through senior season.

Junior Chase Buckley added a 77 for the Spartans, followed by senior Tino Shattuck with a 78. Matt Leniek contributed an 81 and Kyle Hennessey an 84. Keane Arron’s 89 did not figure into the team score.

“I thought they did a tremendous job,” Krowiak said. “It was chilly out, it was windy, it rained at times. It seems like any time we come up there the conditions are tough.

“We talked about how it’s going to be an 18-hole grind, it’s going to be a long day, you’ve got to forget about the bad shots, the bad holes and try to put together a round.”

Krowiak said he saw a lot of quality shots from his players, adding he was very proud of how they played.

Maine-Endwell came up one shot short of Elmira in the Section 4 Class A tournament. Norwich won the Class B team title.

McManus was Class A sectional medalist and Norwich’s Brevin Bennett the Class B champion.

“Golf in this area I think is doing really well right now,” Krowiak said. “I think competition breeds us wanting to do better and I think the guys put in the work in the offseason, all year long, and I think that comes through. … It’s tough to go win matches and it’s tough to win these 18-hole tournaments.”

Brixner played to his strengths

While Brixner has been among Section 4’s top players this season, he said he hadn’t played his best golf. That came into play as he navigated a course that’s tricky under the best of conditions.

“On a lot of the tough holes today I would purposely try to miss the green because I knew I haven’t been putting great,” Brixner said.

“It was tough. It was like mad cold out. I just wore a lot of layers. The pins were tough, just tried to leave myself in the right spot.”

Brixner’s round included four bogeys and three birdies.

Brixner and six teammates will compete in the spring season’s Section 4 medalist tournament, which determines who advances to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association tournament that will be held June 7 and 8 at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville.

“I’m definitely glad I finished out strong, being my senior year and going out on a high note,” Brixner said. “Definitely nice to be able to play well here.”

Team scores

Maine-Endwell 393, Binghamton 399, Elmira 430, Norwich 436, Oneonta 449, Seton Catholic Central 455.

Top Individuals

Blaise Brixner (Maine-Endwell) 73, Brady McManus (Binghamton) 75, Teddy Brosius (Vestal) 76, Johnny Gorman (Vestal) 76, Joe Cain (Horseheads) 77, Rowan Hinrichsen (Ithaca) 77, Dom Bernthon (Binghamton) 77, Chase Buckley (M-E) 77, Griffin Levine (Ithaca) 78, Jack Cavalier (Elmira) 78, Tino Shattuck (M-E) 78, Brevin Bennett (Norwich) 78, Dylan Terrell (Windsor) 79, Madden Michalko (Chenango Valley) 79.

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today

Read the full article here