SECTION IV GIRLS GOLF: WAVERLY WINS FOURTH STRAIGHT TITLE — TOMASSO QUALIFIES FOR STATES FOR SIXTH TIME (14 PHOTOS) (2019-05-21)
Valley Sports ReportELMIRA "” Waverly won its fourth straight team title, and senior Alex Tomasso qualified for States for the sixth consecutive year here Tuesday afternoon at the Section IV girls golf championships at Soaring Eagles Golf Course.
The Lady Wolverines, playing without one of their top four players in junior Gianna Picco, topped runner-up Horseheads by 50 strokes. Waverly tallied a four-player aggregate score of 384, while Horseheads had 434, and third-place Corning amassed 444 strokes.
"It was really difficult conditions today, it was so windy," said Waverly coach Pete Girolamo. "We didn't play great, but we played pretty well, especially considering the conditions.
"I'm really proud of the girls, and happy for them," noted Girolamo. "We'll go to States and represent Section IV again this year, which is nice, too."
Alex Tomasso, who will be playing collegiately at Division I Merrimack College in the fall, shot an 85 to finish third. (The top nine advance to States.)
"(Alex) played pretty well today," said Girolamo. "... she's played pretty well for six years.
"She is the consummate hard worker, and she's been a pleasure to coach," noted Girolamo. "Think about it, she is going to States for the sixth time, and I don't think that's ever been done before.
"She's one of those kids who comes along once in a great while," added Girolamo. "I've been coaching for 38 years, and I can count on one hand the kids with the type of determination she has."
Sophomores Sidney Tomasso and Gabby Picco shot matching rounds of 93. Tomasso placed fifth via tiebreaker (lower score on back nine) and Picco sixth.
"Sidney and Gabby both played good today," said Girolamo. "Like I said, the wind was brutal, I don't think I've ever seen it that windy here before, and they both put up a good number."
Sophomore Haley Kittle carded a 113 for the Lady Wolverines, while sophomore Gretchen Sowle and senior Lauren Newman shot non-scoring rounds of 115 and 129, respectively.
"I knew one of Haley or Gretchen's scores were going to count ... they have been working hard because we knew we'd be without Gianna," said Girolamo. "They struggled a little early, but both ended up in the top 20."
Eighth-grader Bailey Shoemaker of Unadilla Valley repeated as Section IV champion with a round of 74, and will now attempt to repeat as state champion. Chenango Forks sophomore Emily Gresham was second with an 80.
Joining Shoemaker, Gresham, and the Tomasso sisters on the Section IV team at States will be Corning freshman Lucia Chen (fourth with an 88), Horseheads senior Emily Legare (seventh with a 103), Hancock junior Brenna Gleim (eighth with a 104), Corning freshman Hannah Masaki (ninth with a 105), and Windham-Ashland-Jewitt 8th-grader Lilliana Prazo (10th with a 105). Prazo replaces Picco, who will not be competing at States.
The alternates for Section IV are Horseheads 8th-grader Brooklyn Moffe and Horseheads 7th-grader Ava Fairbrother, who shot rounds of 108 and 110, respectively.
The New York State Championships will be held June 1-2 at the Deerfield Country Club in Brockport.
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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Alex Tomasso. - PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
