RUSH — For the first time in six years the New York State Public High School Athletic Association will crown a new girls golf champion.

After the first round of competition on Sunday at Wild Wood Country Club Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove sophomore Jocelyn Wintersteen is right in the mix to claim the vacant title. Through the first 9, Wintersteen was 3-under the par 72 course and in the lead after three birdies and bogey-free golf.

Wintersteen carded three straight bogeys to begin the back 9, but settled in to shoot par for the day and maintain third place heading into the final round this morning.

“Jocelyn played an outstanding round of golf today with an incredible 3-under par, 34, on the front nine,” Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove head coach Jenny Ringler stated. “She kept her composure and took it one shot at a time today. She has been working hard at this all season and it was great to see it all come together for her today. We are looking forward to keeping that momentum going into the second round on Monday.”

The lead is well within reach at 2-under and is shared by Delaney Abel of Corning/Painted Post-IV and Nina Choe of Ursuline-I. The freshman Abel played pretty flawless golf with just two bogeys and birdies on Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 18.

Then the junior Choe ended her round on fire with three straight birdies to get back under par.

Choe finished tied for 6th in last year’s competition, while Abel tied for 25th and Wintersteen has leaped all the way from 57th.

Jamestown senior Nilla Ecklof is still in the mix for a strong finish after shooting 10-over putting her in a tie for 28th.

“I was very proud of Nilla’s patience and maturity on the course today,” Jamestown head coach Joe Salvaggio stated. “Her confidence was at an all time high. She shot 39 on the back, which is the lowest 9-hole score of her career. I am so excited for her to play her best golf in the biggest moments.”

The final round will begin this morning at 8 in a shotgun start format.

BOYS

RYAN KELLY SHOOTS 1ST ROUND 74

CHURCHVILLE — Four golfers managed to shoot under par during the first round of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys golf championships on Sunday at Mill Creek Golf Club.

Jackson Saroney of Jamesville/Dewitt-III tore apart the par 71 course with a first round 67, scoring five birdies and just one bogey on the day to lead at 4-under.

Keeping up with the leaders early in the day was Fredonia’s Ryan Kelly starting strong by shooting par on the back 9 with three birdies. Despite adding three bogeys in his final nine holes, Kelly is still tied for 11th and will begin action in today’s shotgun start on the par 5 at No. 2.

Maple Grove’s Evan Steffen is just one stroke behind Kelly at 4-over, scoring a 37 on the front and 38 on the back. He begins this morning on the par 4 at No. 3.

Another stroke separates Fredonia’s Jordan Kelly who is 5-over after scoring 36 on the front and 40 on the back to hold a tie with nine golfers at 22nd. His second round will pick up on the par 4 at No. 5.

Jamestown’s Evan Maloney fired an 84 in the first round and is tied for 76th, he will start the second round on the par 4 at No. 13.