HALFMOON — Thanks to a balanced effort, the Ballston Spa varsity boys golf team brought home a title on Oct. 12, capturing the 2023 Section 2 Class A Boys’ Golf Championship.
The Scotties were led by eighth-grader Jeffrey Fumarola, junior Sam DiNallo, and senior Chris Desmond, the team’s top three finishers. Gavin Tribley, Alex Wade, and Nate Hill also contributed strong rounds to the sectional victory.
The Scotties’ top five finishers advanced to state qualifiers, where Fumarola was able to earn a spot at the state championships in June. The team’s finish recapped one of the strongest years in program history, including an 11-2 record in Suburban Council matchups.
“The team performed great,” said Fumarola. “We got help from a lot of the boys. Sam (DiNallo) really stepped up, MVP. I can’t wait for states, it’s going to be fun.”
Entering the sectional tournament, head coach Ben Eldridge said his message to the team was to “control what you can control,” saying that while the Scotties’ golfers certainly had championship aspirations, he hoped to focus mainly on the process.
“I didn’t want that to be something they thought about. Because we talk a lot all year, even if it’s not your best round, every one or two fewer (strokes) you can come up with, that helps the whole team,” said Eldridge. “So the message was just more about going out, taking it one shot at a time, three holes at a time, and just play your game, and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.”
The Scotties’ last team sectional title came in 1990 as a member of Class B, Eldridge said. While junior M.J. Lofink added that golf is a “very mental game,” Eldridge credited the team for their ability to remain level and consistent throughout the fall season.
“So many guys that could play well,” Eldridge said. “And in general, we were pretty consistent all year.”
Eldridge made note of several golfers who stepped up at sectionals, including DiNallo, who he said was the team’s MVP at the Section 2 Championships. He also credited the senior trio of Wade, Desmond, and Tribley for finishing their high school golf careers on a strong note.
“To get that their senior year, hopefully they’ll remember it,” said Eldridge. “It was pretty cool. I was proud of them.”
At state qualifiers, Fumarola placed third overall, earning a spot among the top nine finishers on the Section 2 State Championship team. Wade and Tribley each advanced to the final day of qualifiers as well, earning top-20 finishes.
Fumarola qualifying for the state championships marked something of a full-circle moment for head coach Eldridge, who qualified for states as a Ballston Spa golfer three times himself, in 1997, 1999, and 2000.
“It’s so cool,” Eldridge said of Fumarola qualifying. “He’s just a great kid, and he’s fun to play golf with. It’s nice to be good at golf. It’s even cooler that kids like him and Kieran Cummins at Shaker, they’re just great kids. Their state team is pretty solid, a lot of good kids. They’re going to have a ball. Jeffrey’s going to fit right in with them. They’ll do well.”
Eldridge and several players also emphasized that the season was simply an enjoyable experience. Eldridge noted that the team was larger than in years past, with 13 student-athletes listed on the varsity roster.
“At tryouts, it was just a lot of fun. We ended up keeping a bunch of guys,” said Eldridge. “It was a very different feel this year, with having all those other guys on the team. … It was cool.”
“Even when some of us didn’t play well, we had our teammates and the fun environment after the round,” Tribley added.
Eldridge noted Fumarola will continue to work on his game throughout the winter in preparation for states. He added that this fall season was a “win-win” combination, with the Scotties having not only an enjoyable group, but also a successful one.
“They’re awesome. It’s so much fun,” said Eldridge of the team. “It’s what you always hope to get, and rarely do, is that perfect storm of good kids, good season. Feel lucky as a coach.”
