MECHANICVILLE - Golf may be viewed as an individual sport, but the top competitors Wednesday in the Section 2 state qualifier were more immersed into the team outlook.
The top priority was the state squad. The top nine scorers over the 36-hole competition - which began Tuesday - at Fairways of Halfmoon advanced to the state tournament, to be played June 6 and 7 at the Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville.
There also were the various high schools represented. Francisco "Ceko" Cupp, a sophomore at Saratoga Springs, won medalist honors with a 4-under-par 140, but he seemed to be more enthused that three of his Blue Streaks teammates - Elliot Meyers (151), Michael Hakewell (155) and Matthew Nawrot (156) - will accompany him to states.
"Medalist is cool," said Cupp, who finished fourth at states last season, "but it was just more focused on the team aspect, trying to get more of us on the states bus."
Cupp ended the two-year medalist reign of Ichabod Crane senior Tanner LaTorre, who was six shots behind the sophomore after the first round. LaTorre shot a 1-under 71 Wednesday and finished second, five strokes behind Cupp.
"I tried my hardest to try and catch Ceko, but my putting was not it today," said LaTorre, who will attend the University of Rhode Island next year. "I think I played well. It was just some things that didn't go my way, but whatever, I qualified, and that's all that matters."
Also making the state team were Ryden Klatt of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (149), Matthew Salvadore of Mechanicville (149), Tyler Bowers of Shenendehowa (150) and Nicky Jadav of Shaker (158).
Jadav got the final berth, beating Chase Pfeiffenberger of Guilderland on the first hole of a playoff. Pfeiffenberger and Cole Whitman of Saratoga Springs (159) are the alternates.
LaTorre, thanks in part to an eagle on the par-5 seventh, got to within three of Cupp a couple of times during the round but couldn't close the gap any further.
"I was getting closer to Ceko, but I was just out there having fun," he said. "I wasn't really thinking of where I was. I obviously wanted to win, but just went out there with a free mind."
It will be the fourth trip to states for LaTorre, who has trophies from the 2025 International Junior Masters and the 2024 New York State Golf Association 14U Junior Championship. At states, he was 22nd as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore and 25th as a junior.
Cupp will be at the state tournament for a third time. He was 42nd as an eighth-grader and fourth last year.
"I know that course pretty well," he said. "I've played four rounds in tournaments there. I'm looking forward to that. It's going to be a lot of fun."
Section 2 boys' golf state qualifier results
Final Round
x-won final berth on first playoff hole
- Francisco Cupp (Saratoga Springs) 68-72-140
- Tanner LaTorre (Ichabod Crane) 74-71-145
- Ryden Klatt (Burnt Hills) 75-74-149
- Matthew Salvadore (Mechanicville) 76-73-149
- Tyler Bowers (Shenendehowa) 79-71-150
- Elliot Meyers (Saratoga Springs) 75-76-151
- Michael Hakewill (Saratoga Springs) 79-76-155
- Matthew Nawrot (Saratoga Springs) 78-78-156
- x-Nicky Jadav (Shaker) 81-77-158
(alternates)
- Chase Pfeiffenberger (Guilderland) 82-76-158
- Cole Whitman (Saratoga Springs) 81-78-159
(failed to qualify)
- Blake DeFilippi (Colonie) 82-79-161
- Jonathan Lazarek (Bethlehem) 81-80-161
- Jack Pickett (Shenendehowa) 86-76-162
- Jacob Germaine (Maple Hill) 84-78-162
- Matteo Dambrocia (Voorheesville) 84-78-162
- Lucas Sharrow (Whitehall) 92-71-163
- Mason Briscoe (Hudson) 85-78-163
- Alex Knapp (Shaker) 85-78-163
- Rowen Seeley (Warrensburg) 83-80-163
- Jackson Dunbar (Schuylerville) 82-81-163
- Wyatt Dolinsky (Saratoga Springs) 81-82-163
- Carter Eldridge (Eldridge) 78-85-163
- Austin DeFilippi (Colonie) 81-83-164
- Cole Cefalu (Saratoga Catholic) 78-86-164
- A.J. Martin (Niskayuna) 85-80-165
- Jackson Larrabee (Colonie) 81-84-165
- Brody Miclette (Colonie) 86-80-166
- Rowen Chamberlain (Bethlehem) 84-82-166
- Brennan Cain (CBA) 85-82-167
- Ryan McDonald (Mohonasen) 87-81-168
- Jack Rulison (Bethlehem) 86-82-168
- Maddox Aiezza (Shenendehowa) 83-85-168
- Peter Ryan (Troy) 88-81-169
- Palmer Tomkinson (Saratoga Springs) 81-88-169
- Rhys Roberts (Queensbury) 80-89-169
- Jake Lastarza (Niskayuna) 87-83-170
- Ben Ruth (Bethlehem) 83-87-170
- Keegan Nastke (Lake George)82-88-170
- Andreas Amedore (Voorheesville) 81-89-170
- Sam Fiori (Scotia-Glenville) 86-85-171
- Keegan Mazuryk (Niskayuna) 86-85-171
- Justin Goddin (Scotia-Glenville) 90-82-172
- Brady Smith (Burnt Hills) 89-83-172
- Aiden Gibilaro (South Glens Falls) 84-88-172
- Jake Korol (Queensbury) 86-87-173
- Mason Holland (Guilderland) 90-84-174
- Nick Mowery (Mohonasen) 88-86-174
- Nico Galante (Coxsackie-Athens) 84-90-174
- Parker DeLima (Guilderland) 93-82-175
- Tyson Brewer (Tyson) 86-89-175
- Mason LaTorre (Ichabod Crane) 88-88-176
- Tye Morris (Stillwater) 95-82-177
- Luke Holsclaw (Queensbury) 93-84-177
- Mark Mahay (Saratoga Catholic) 95-83-178
- Landon Van Alstyne (Chatham) 88-91-179
- Jack Shea (Hoosick Falls) 96-84-180
- Cayden Smith (Guilderland) 98-83-181
- Lucas Forand (Columbia) 89-94-183
- Eric Graves (Colonie) 95-90-185
- Collin Lussier (Duanesburg) 88-97-185
- Mason Lucey (Niskayuna) 95-91-186
- Seth Arquette (Whitehall) 94-92-186
- Benett Flynn (Niskayuna) 92-95-187
- Fred Sperbeck (Cobleskill) 90-99-189
- Brady Bullinger (Mohonasen) 99-92-191
- Dominic Traynor (Averill Park) 99-93-192
- Brody LaPlante (Troy) 98-96-194
- Andrew Miller (Galway) 98-101-199
- Brady VanVoast (Broadalbin-Perth) 103-98-201
- Calvin Raymond (Duanesburg) 105-96-201
- Daniel Degrass-Izzo (Stillwater) WD
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There’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Saratoga Springs' Cupp wins Section 2 boys' golf state qualifier.