Saratoga Springs' Cupp wins Section 2 boys' golf state qualifier

Francisco "Ceko" Cupp of Saratoga Springs hits a chip shot during the Section 2 state qualifier on Wednesday at Fairways of Halfmoon in Mechanicville. (Jim Franco/Times Union) MECHANICVILLE - Golf may be viewed as an individual sport, but the top competitors Wednesday in the Section 2 state qualifier were more immersed into the team outlook.The top priority was the state squad. The top nine scorers over the 36-hole competition - which began Tuesday - at Fairways of Halfmoon advanced to the state tournament, to be played June 6 and 7 at the Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville.There also were the various high schools represented. Francisco "Ceko" Cupp, a sophomore at Saratoga Springs, won medalist honors with a 4-under-par 140, but he seemed to be more enthused that three of his Blue Streaks teammates - Elliot Meyers (151), Michael Hakewell (155) and Matthew Nawrot (156) - will accompany him to states."Medalist is cool," said Cupp, who finished fourth at states last season, "but it was just more focused on the team aspect, trying to get more of us on the states bus."Cupp ended the two-year medalist reign of Ichabod Crane senior Tanner LaTorre, who was six shots behind the sophomore after the first round. LaTorre shot a 1-under 71 Wednesday and finished second, five strokes behind Cupp."I tried my hardest to try and catch Ceko, but my putting was not it today," said LaTorre, who will attend the University of Rhode Island next year. "I think I played well. It was just some things that didn't go my way, but whatever, I qualified, and that's all that matters."Also making the state team were Ryden Klatt of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (149), Matthew Salvadore of Mechanicville (149), Tyler Bowers of Shenendehowa (150) and Nicky Jadav of Shaker (158).Jadav got the final berth, beating Chase Pfeiffenberger of Guilderland on the first hole of a playoff. Pfeiffenberger and Cole Whitman of Saratoga Springs (159) are the alternates.LaTorre, thanks in part to an eagle on the par-5 seventh, got to within three of Cupp a couple of times during the round but couldn't close the gap any further."I was getting closer to Ceko, but I was just out there having fun," he said. "I wasn't really thinking of where I was. I obviously wanted to win, but just went out there with a free mind."It will be the fourth trip to states for LaTorre, who has trophies from the 2025 International Junior Masters and the 2024 New York State Golf Association 14U Junior Championship. At states, he was 22nd as a freshman, fifth as a sophomore and 25th as a junior.Cupp will be at the state tournament for a third time. He was 42nd as an eighth-grader and fourth last year."I know that course pretty well," he said. "I've played four rounds in tournaments there. I'm looking forward to that. It's going to be a lot of fun."Section 2 boys' golf state qualifier resultsFinal Roundx-won final berth on first playoff holeFrancisco Cupp (Saratoga Springs) 68-72-140Tanner LaTorre (Ichabod Crane) 74-71-145Ryden Klatt (Burnt Hills) 75-74-149Matthew Salvadore (Mechanicville) 76-73-149Tyler Bowers (Shenendehowa) 79-71-150Elliot Meyers (Saratoga Springs) 75-76-151Michael Hakewill (Saratoga Springs) 79-76-155Matthew Nawrot (Saratoga Springs) 78-78-156x-Nicky Jadav (Shaker) 81-77-158(alternates)Chase Pfeiffenberger (Guilderland) 82-76-158Cole Whitman (Saratoga Springs) 81-78-159(failed to qualify)Blake DeFilippi (Colonie) 82-79-161Jonathan Lazarek (Bethlehem) 81-80-161Jack Pickett (Shenendehowa) 86-76-162Jacob Germaine (Maple Hill) 84-78-162Matteo Dambrocia (Voorheesville) 84-78-162Lucas Sharrow (Whitehall) 92-71-163Mason Briscoe (Hudson) 85-78-163Alex Knapp (Shaker) 85-78-163Rowen Seeley (Warrensburg) 83-80-163Jackson Dunbar (Schuylerville) 82-81-163Wyatt Dolinsky (Saratoga Springs) 81-82-163Carter Eldridge (Eldridge) 78-85-163Austin DeFilippi (Colonie) 81-83-164Cole Cefalu (Saratoga Catholic) 78-86-164A.J. Martin (Niskayuna) 85-80-165Jackson Larrabee (Colonie) 81-84-165Brody Miclette (Colonie) 86-80-166Rowen Chamberlain (Bethlehem) 84-82-166Brennan Cain (CBA) 85-82-167Ryan McDonald (Mohonasen) 87-81-168Jack Rulison (Bethlehem) 86-82-168Maddox Aiezza (Shenendehowa) 83-85-168Peter Ryan (Troy) 88-81-169Palmer Tomkinson (Saratoga Springs) 81-88-169Rhys Roberts (Queensbury) 80-89-169Jake Lastarza (Niskayuna) 87-83-170Ben Ruth (Bethlehem) 83-87-170Keegan Nastke (Lake George)82-88-170Andreas Amedore (Voorheesville) 81-89-170Sam Fiori (Scotia-Glenville) 86-85-171Keegan Mazuryk (Niskayuna) 86-85-171Justin Goddin (Scotia-Glenville) 90-82-172Brady Smith (Burnt Hills) 89-83-172Aiden Gibilaro (South Glens Falls) 84-88-172Jake Korol (Queensbury) 86-87-173Mason Holland (Guilderland) 90-84-174Nick Mowery (Mohonasen) 88-86-174Nico Galante (Coxsackie-Athens) 84-90-174Parker DeLima (Guilderland) 93-82-175Tyson Brewer (Tyson) 86-89-175Mason LaTorre (Ichabod Crane) 88-88-176Tye Morris (Stillwater) 95-82-177Luke Holsclaw (Queensbury) 93-84-177Mark Mahay (Saratoga Catholic) 95-83-178Landon Van Alstyne (Chatham) 88-91-179Jack Shea (Hoosick Falls) 96-84-180Cayden Smith (Guilderland) 98-83-181Lucas Forand (Columbia) 89-94-183Eric Graves (Colonie) 95-90-185Collin Lussier (Duanesburg) 88-97-185Mason Lucey (Niskayuna) 95-91-186Seth Arquette (Whitehall) 94-92-186Benett Flynn (Niskayuna) 92-95-187Fred Sperbeck (Cobleskill) 90-99-189Brady Bullinger (Mohonasen) 99-92-191Dominic Traynor (Averill Park) 99-93-192Brody LaPlante (Troy) 98-96-194Andrew Miller (Galway) 98-101-199Brady VanVoast (Broadalbin-Perth) 103-98-201Calvin Raymond (Duanesburg) 105-96-201Daniel Degrass-Izzo (Stillwater) WDSubscribeThere’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Saratoga Springs' Cupp wins Section 2 boys' golf state qualifier.