By Frank Rizzo
CALLICOON — May 4, 2001 – One league may be gone, but Jeff-Youngsville has carried its golfing dominance over to a new one this spring.
After winning the last two Western Sullivan League (WSL) titles, the Trojans put themselves in good stead to win the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic League (OCIAA) Division V.
At press time, J-Y carried a 6–0 league record and was 8–2 overall.
“Our division is pretty much the same as the WSL,” J-Y coach Rick Ellison pointed out. “The only difference is that Tri-Valley moved up.”
Another difference is that the move enabled J-Y to schedule previously unknown opponents.
Last Thursday the Trojans were humbled by Cornwall on its home course, the par-36 Storm King GC, by 201-223.
This past Monday J-Y lost to host Valley Central 198-210 at the par-36 Osiris CC.
“They both set records on their courses — I guess we bring out the best in everybody,” Ellison laughed.
Storm King “is a tricky little course, a nine-holer,” Ellison said. “You really gotta know it.”
Those kinds of non-league matches Ellison noted, are what “we need, which is head-to-head competition against strong teams before the [league and] sectional tournaments. We’re looking to get some respect for our program.”
He added: “I’m hoping these tough matches will force my players to concentrate to the best of their ability. It forces them to think every shot through, because every stroke is important.”
As expected, Gregg and Sean Semenetz have been the leading golfers for J-Y this season.
Through Monday’s matches Sean, an eighth grader, sported a 4.38 stroke average while Gregg — a senior — averaged 5.16 over par.
“On average, [the Semenetzes] have been about four or five strokes better than the rest, and I would like to close that gap,” Ellison said.
The rest of the Trojan lineup, with stroke averages through Monday: Craig Corigliano (9.00), Matt Fulton (10.33), Kurt Seibert (12.63), Joe Winski (12.70), Josh Staves (14.30), Aileen Semenetz (16.25), and Chris Justus (17.00).
Gregg Semenetz qualified for the state tournament two years ago as a soph but failed to make the cut last spring.
“We were looking at the guys [who qualified for the States] coming back and Gregg said, ‘They’re going to be facing the same pressure like I did,’” Ellison related. “Gregg has gained perspective on what an accomplishment that was [going to the state tourney]. You have to be good — and lucky.”