By Rob Potter
SULLIVAN COUNTY — For the second consecutive year, Sullivan West’s Justin Armstrong has earned a berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Boys’ Golf Tournament.
Armstrong, a senior, shot a 5-over-par 77 in the second round of the Section IX Tournament on Wednesday at Casperkill Golf Club in Poughkeepsie. The 77, combined with the 3-over-par 71 he carded in Tuesday’s first round at the Villa Roma Country Club in Callicoon, gave Armstrong a final score of 151. That 151 allowed Armstrong to tie Colby Lewis of Monroe-Woodbury and Eric Seitz of Wallkill for fifth place.
The top nine finishers at the Section IX tourney advanced to the state event.
The other golfers who will represent Section IX at the state tournament on Sunday, May 31 and Monday, June 1 at Cornell University in Ithaca are Andrew DeForest of Rondout Valley, who won the section meet with a two-day total score of 139, Jeff Schaller of Kingston (145), Nick DePalma of Wallkill (146), Nick Johnston of Cornwall (149), Ryan Metzger of Warwick (155) and Hans Schulte of Rondout Valley (155).
Three other Sullivan County golfers competed in the first round of the Section IX Tournament, but missed the cut of 84 to play in the second round. They were Rich Elliott of Fallsburg, who shot an 85, Melanie Kleiner of Sullivan West, who carded an 87, and Jon Geiger of Eldred, who recorded a 101.