By BRIAN FEES

ELMIRA — Two straight years Noah Banks had come up just short in his bid to qualify for the New York State Boys’ Golf Championships. On Saturday the Candor standout earned his first trip to states, finishing in a four-way tie for sixth place at the Section IV Medalist Tournament at Mark Twain Golf Course.

Banks, who had watched his brother Jacob make states in the past, had just missed making a trip himself.

“This is my first trip,” he said. “My brother made it and it’s my first trip. The past two times I missed the cut by like three or two shots, so it feels great.”

With four players tied at 79 it was a waiting game to see if that was where the cut to be in the top nine and make states was.

“I was definitely nervous,” Banks said of waiting as all the scores came in. “I still have the nerves.”

It was a great start for Banks, with a 37 on the front nine, before shooting 42 on the second nine.

“I started out great,” Banks said. “On the front I shot one over, then after that I was just thinking, just play smart, play smart. I was on the bogey train, I couldn’t get off it. I ended up hitting a par the last hole and that sealed the deal. It’s amazing.”

Making states has been a goal for Banks for a long time.

“It’s definitely been on my mind,” Banks said. “It’s like a dream of mine. I’ve been practicing hard and I finally did it.”

Things were a bit harder this year. Instead of an 36-hole tournament over two days, weather wiped out Thursday leaving everything down to 18 holes on Saturday.

“You definitely don’t have that safety net,” Banks said. “But, you can’t think about it. If you think about it too much you are going to mess up.”

And, the weather was a challenge all day with rain at times, and strong winds at times.

“I just played to my strengths,” Banks said. “I factored in the wind, factored in the weather. I have been practicing in the crappy weather, so that helped.”

States is at Mill Creek Golf Course in Churchville, which is fun for Banks to head to somewhere new for states.

“I am so excited to go somewhere new,” Banks said.

Candor had two golfers at the medalist tournament on Saturday, with Tyler Green shooting a 95 on the day. He shot a 48 on the front and a 47 on the back. 

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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES