He found success in his first round last year as a junior.

Now he’s looking to put it all together in his last opportunity.

The Fredonia senior will lead a group of four Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association boys golfers at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships, which will take place Sunday and Monday at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville.

“Going to states in golf is the hardest sport to get there,” Fredonia head coach Ross Conti said Thursday evening. “There are no classifications, large school or small school.”

EVAN MALONEY

Kelly will enjoy a practice round today and will play another Saturday on the same course where he finished 46th a year ago. That finish was a bit unfortunate for Kelly, who stood tied for 11th after a first-round 74 before shooting an 83 in the final round.

“He realized that having a bad hole set him back last year, and realizes how it might have affected him going forward,” Conti said. “Usually he’s pretty good about handling things and putting it behind him.”

Kelly opened his state-tournament career as a freshman in 2023 when he fired rounds of 87 and 89 en route to a 32-over score of 176 to finish 86th at Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira. But in 2024 as a sophomore, he just missed out on qualifying for the state tournament at the Section VI Championships.

“When you know you should be there, you’re capable and you miss out, it reinforces that you need to find another level to your game in order to not be so affected by the setbacks,” Conti said. “This past year, I think he’s worked harder than ever. We’ve played in some horrendous conditions. He played really well in some of the worst weather we had.”

Kelly will be the first local player to tee off when he begins on No. 10 at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

TYLER SALVAGGIO

“The state tournament is just like any of the other bigger tournaments that he’s played in,” Conti said. “Being a two-day tournament, there is a little bit more margin for error. I think he’s prepared both mentally and technically.”

First-round play will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday with the final round teeing off at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

“I think he’s so experienced in tournament golf. He’s technically ready to go. He’s been getting good help from the outside, working with a couple of teachers. He’s certainly had a tremendous season,” Conti said of Kelly. “It’s not a given to go to states. … Going to states three times for Ryan is quite a task. There are a lot of kids who go (once) and don’t get back there again.

Jamestown senior Tyler Salvaggio will hit his first tee shot at the state tournament on No. 1 at 10:40 a.m. Sunday. His senior teammate Evan Maloney, making his second straight trip to the state tournament, will tee off at No. 10 at 10:50 a.m. Maloney was 83rd a year ago with a 29-over 84-87-171. Randolph senior Cody Slade will be the final local competitor to tee off at 11 a.m. on hole No. 10.

The remainder of the Section VI team includes: sophomore Braeden Lee of Starpoint, senior Matt Baumgartner of Springville, senior Caleb Occhino of Orchard Park, sophomore Philip Monahan of Lewiston-Porter and junior Jack Koziol of Williamsville East.

CODY SLADE

Jamesville Dewitt senior Jackson Saroney won last year’s title with a state-record 10-under showing. He is now golfing at Penn State University.

Yorktown junior Joe Carey is the top returning place finisher after taking third last year as a sophomore with a 4-under two-day total of 138.

GIRLS GOLF

Cassadaga Valley junior Jocelyn Wintersteen will make her fourth appearance at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships when she tees off at 9:08 a.m. Sunday on No. 1 at Wild Wood Country Club in Rush.

Wintersteen finished tied for 12th a year ago with an 11-over 155. She was just two shots off the pace after an opening-round 72 before shooting a final-round 83.

As a freshman, Wintersteen tied for 57th with a 90-90-180 at The Edison Club in Rexford. In 2023 as an eighth-grader, Wintersteen shot a 92-91-183 to tie for 49th at The Edison Club.

Fredonia senior Sydnee Hoffman will make her first state tournament appearance when she tees off at No. 1 at 10:44 a.m. Sunday.

Cattaraugus-Little Valley senior Emmagiulia Barcellini will also make her first state tournament appearance with a 9:48 a.m. tee time at No. 1.

The remainder of the Section VI team includes: seventh-grader Elise Brady, freshmen Claire Brady and Ella Rivera, sophomore Charlotte Occhino and junior Eliana Wierzbowski of Orchard Park, junior Tatiana Tutko of Clarence, senior Autumn Bailey of Amherst and junior Kiley Burke of Kenmore East.

Ursuline senior Nina Choe, the defending champion, will tee off at 9 a.m. at No. 1. Choe won the 2025 title at Wild Wood CC with a 6-under two-day total of 138, seven strokes better than the second-place finisher.

Golfers will enjoy a practice round today with action beginning at 9 a.m. on both Sunday and Monday.