By TIM TAYLORTioga County Sports Report
OWEGO — The Owego boys golf team doesn’t seem to have a problem filling its roster. Once again, the River Hawks will open the season with 20-plus players.
“This year we have 23 youngsters on the roster,” said coach Chris Evans, who is closing in on the 20-year mark coaching on the links. “Our numbers have been quite impressive over the last six or seven years”.
Owego has a solid group of returning players, including seniors Duke Snyder, Carter Rieg and Cal Smith, and junior Beckett Tirinato.
Several underclassmen are back also. They are sophomores Wyatt Prentiss, Jordan Snyder and Landon Boccassini . Rounding out the returnees is 8th-grader Hudson Brigham.
“Two newcomers who will make a massive impact are Sawyer Prentiss and Connor Kotski,” Evans said. “We are certainly looking forward to having them on the golf course this season.”
Graduation losses weren’t too bad last season, although the River Hawks did lose their top player, Jacob Bensley. He was a STAC Central Division all-star.
STAC champion Maine-Endwell and runner-up Vestal graduated their top golfers, but both return several players, including state qualifiers Justin Alvord from the Golden Bears (Section IV runner-up) and M-E’s Chase Buckley.
Evans, whose team was 5-7 last fall, expects some solid competition on this season’s schedule.
“Look for Seton, Norwich, and Waverly to be improved teams this year,” he said.
Seton and Waverly are in the Central Division with the River Hawks while Norwich (STAC East) is the defending Section IV Class B champion.
Oneonta, Owego’s opponent in the season opener, was 12-2 last year.
Meanwhile, the River Hawks will be looking to improve with each match.
“As for OFA, we hope to get some consistency and leadership from our seniors while teaching our younger players how to manage their way around a golf course,” Evans said.
Owego’s season opener is Thursday at 11 a.m. at The Golf Club at Owego and kicks off a hectic early-season schedule.
The River Hawks visit Chenango Valley Friday, then compete in the 30th annual Nick Dinunzio Memorial Golf Tournament at En-Joie Golf Club on Monday. That event is followed by a home match against Susquehanna Valley, and road trips to Norwich and Windsor on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
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IN PHOTO 1: Chris Evans will look for consistency and improvement from his players as the season progresses. IN TOP PHOTO: Owego has good numbers on the links again this season. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
