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Golfers soak up some sun in Malone

Lake Placid junior Drew Maiorca drives the ball on the 18th tee during Wednesday’s Craig Chisum tournament on Malone’s East course. Maiorca shot a 76. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

MALONE — For a good portion of this spring’s high school golf season that’s about to wind down, players have had to compete in some rainy, cold conditions.

But that was not the case Wednesday, as some of the top golfers from sections VII and X gathered for the annual Craig Chisum Memorial Tournament in Malone.

And on a sunny, warm but windy day, Canton’s Danny Christy topped the field, firing an even-par 72 to triumph by four strokes.

The tournament was again played on Malone’s East course. Christy, a senior, shot a one-under-par 35 on the front nine and 37 on the back. The next closest Section X golfer was Massena’s Terrell Thomas, who finished nine shots behind Christy with an 81.

Two Lake Placid golfers finished at the top of the Section VII pack, led by junior Drew Maiorca with a four-over par 72. Like Christy, Maiorca went one-under on the front but finished with a 41 on the back nine in the tourney that began with a shotgun start.

Lake Placid’s Bjorn Kroes tees off on the 17th hole while Canton’s Danny Christy, left, and Moriah’s Joey Stahl follow the shot during Wednesday’s Craig Chisum Memorial Tournament in Malone. Christy shot the low round of the day with a 72, while Kroes came in with a 77 and Stahl carded a 78. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Last year’s overall Chisum champion, Blue Bombers senior Bjorn Kroes, was a shot behind his teammate with a 77, and Moriah’s Joey Stahl, a junior, was third in Section VII with a 78.

Kroes, Stahl and Christy toured the course together and were the lowest scoring group after all finishing with rounds in the 70s.

Kroes entered the Chisum after winning the two-day Section VII individual title last week with a one-under par. He took the Chisum title a year ago with a round of 75, also on the east course.

The field included 21 golfers from Section X and 26 from Section VII.

Appearing for the final time as a Lake Placid student-athlete, senior Sean Moore finished with a 92, which was good enough for a 10th-place tie among Section VII golfers.

Ray Amell of Saranac Lake watches a tee shot during Wednesday’s tournament. Amell shot a 99. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

Three golfers represented Saranac Lake in the tournament, and senior Tanner Courcelle led the way with a round of 83. That score landed Courcelle in fifth place in Section VII and tied for ninth overall with three other golfers. Also for Saranac Lake, Ray Amell finished with a 99 and Kyler Darrah carded a 101.

Coaches and athletic directors from many of the participating schools also had the chance to play 18 holes in the friendly competition. Franklin Academy head coach Chris Kelley turned in the lowest score on his home course, finishing with a 75. Saranac Central coach Cody Roberts was lowest in Section VII and second overall with a 76, and Chris Dubay of AuSable Valley finished with a 79.

Lake Placid coach John Glinski played consistent golf, finishing with a front-nine 42 and a 43 on the back for an 85 total. First-year Saranac Lake coach Peter Frenette finished with a 100.

For many golfers, the Chisum serves as a tuneup tournament for the state championships, which take place Sunday and Monday at Cornell University. Both the Malone and Cornell layouts are designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Maiorca, Kroes, and teammate Ryan Kane will represent Lake Placid at the state tournament, and Courcelle is the lone Saranac Lake golfer competing at the championships.

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