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BARD THE BEST-NEW HARTFORD FRESHMEN SECTION III GOLF CHAMP
05/29/10
NINE PLAYERS NOW HEADED TO NY STATE TOURNEY
FRED MILLER/EUGENE KACZOR
 One hundred six high school golfers ventured out for two days of competition as the best from Section III had their say. The top nine including New Hartford freshmen sensation Derek Bard are headed to the 2010 New York State Tournament coming up next week at Cornell University.
Bard proved to be too much for the field, shooting a two day total of 153 to come home two strokes ahead of Eric Edmunds of Skaneateles who ended up with a 155.
Garrett Drejza, who has been great down the stretch this season, was the closest Mohawk Valley area golfer to earn one of the top nine spots. The Clinton Warrior made it home at 168 on the Hamilton College course, good for 14th and five spots out of contention.
According to Whitesboro coach Eugene Kaczor, Drejza had the thrill of a lifetime with a hole-in-one of the second hole of today's round.
What really shocked the longtime Warrior headman was the fact that Damon Kull of Old Forge duplicated the fantastic feat on the same hole on Friday. Kaczor said in his forty years being associated with the sport he has never seen that done.
(Section III Champ-New Hartford's Derek Bard lines one up. MHTS file photo-Jeff Pexton)
It was a tough two days for other local golfers who figured to have a shot at making states. Bard will be the lone Mohawk Valley area golfer to play for a shot at the state title.
Along with Drejza, Whitesboro's own freshmen, Joel Jakubowicz tied with Drejza at 168.
Remsen's Keith Smith finished at 169 with scores of 85 and 84. Clinton's Tim Waters came home at 174. Seth Adams of Camden also played both days at finished with a two day total of 174.
(Clinton's Tim Waters-MHTS FILE PHOTO JEFF PEXTON)
Top 9 New York State Tournament Qualifiers
1. Derek Bard New Hartford Class A 77-76-153
2. Eric Edmunds Skaneateles Class B 78-77-155
3. Eric David JD Class A 78-79-157
4. Brad Monroe Class AA 78-80-158
5. Jake Merola JD Class A 78-82-160
6. Ryan Clark South Jefferson Class B 81-81-162
7. Jeff Baldetti Skaneateles Class B 85-79-164
8. Luke Smith West Genesee Class AA 80-86-166
9. Connor Salanger-West Genesee Class AA 82-84-166
Back to Bard who won it all. Only a freshman, Derek has already enjoyed one of the most successful high school golf careers among local players.
 Today the New Hartford Spartan finished off his first Section III championship, shooting a splendid 76 to hold off last year's champ Eric Edmunds by two shots at Seven Oaks.
Jamesville-Dewitt's Erik Davis (157) finished third. Jake Monroe a CNS Northstar (158) was fourth and fellow JD Red Ram Jake Merola (160) was fifth.
South Jefferson's Ryan Clark (162) and Skaneateles' Jeff Baldetti (164) reached the clubhouse sixth and seventh.
A dramatic three-way playoff was needed to decide the final two roster spots for the state tournament. West Genesee Wildcats Luke Smith and Connor Salanger advanced on the first extra hole (No. 10) after Cortland's Jeff Brown ended up with a double bogey.
(Joel Jakubowicz sends one toward the green-MHTS file photo-Jeff Pexton)
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