The Citizen

Putting two solid rounds together was the trick that Ryan May has been trying to pull off.

The Auburn senior finally pulled off the feat this year at the Section III tournament.

May plays his golf season in the fall, trying to fit practices in all winter, and then comes out in the spring to attempt to make it past the second round of sectionals into the state tournament. It's not always easy, waiting months to compete once with a trip to states on the line.

“I practice indoors when I can in the winter,” May said. “I also go with my family to Florida one or two times and play. It really is hard coming back into it after only practicing a little.”

After playing at the varsity level for six years, May finally reached his goal this season and is the first Auburn golfer to go to states in three years. May's brother, David, was the last Maroon to make the trip to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cornell University.

May will face 99 golfers from all 11 sections in the state as the state tournament begins today. Despite the elite company, May isn't nervous.

“I am really excited,” May said. “I expect to go out there and play well, my goal is to win it but I am going to take it shot by shot.”

In October, May started off his Section III endeavor by earning the medalist position in the sectional qualifier at Lafayette Hills Golf Course. Last Thursday, May continued his success playing in the first round of the Section III tournament and coming out on top of approximately 110 golfers with a 6-over 78, tying him for first place. The low 20 scorers moved on to the second round where May finally got over the hump, carding an 84 and placing fifth. The top nine golfers of that round move on to play on the Section III team in the state tournament.

“It was a really cold and windy day with rain off and on,” Maroons head coach Tony Locastro said. “May played really well despite the conditions and showed his potential.”

Playing well is what earned May the other titles he has been given this year, as the Player of the Year in Division III, an Onondaga League all-star first team selection for his third year in a row and the lowest stroke average in Class A.

“He is someone you want on your team,” Locastro said. “He has superior skills on the golf course, he has the whole package in all aspects of the game. May can play any course with a difficult rating without any problem. He is very capable of playing Division I college golf.”