Despite incredible medalist round from Wiltsey, top-seeded Fillmore succumbs to No. 2 Naples in Class D Finals; team finishes 2025 campaign at 11-2 overall

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PENN YAN — After one of the most incredible performances in their program’s recent memory this Spring, the end of the line for the Fillmore golfers was ultimately reached at the Lakeside Country Club in Penn Yan on Thursday, as they succumbed to a brilliantly balanced scorecard possessed by the No. 2 Naples Big Green through 18 holes of play, as they became Class D champions with a 348-384 win over the Eagles.

“Based on the scores we had seen from Naples, we knew that we were not only going to have to play our best golf, but also hope that they would falter a little bit. Our plan was to stay safe and smart with our shot and club selection. To try and not get ourselves into trouble and make them take a very good score to beat us,” Eagles coach Tom Parks said. “We also had to be tough enough to mentally overcome mistakes and poor shots. I thought the front nine, we executed our game play perfectly. The guys were making great decisions, keeping it simple and Anderson (Wiltsey) had shot even par at 36. We were five strokes back at 185, which is one of our best scores all season through nine holes.

Parks continued, saying “Unfortunately, the wheels came off and we started to try and do a little too much. Naples is legit and I’m not sure if we could beat them in an 18-hole match if we played them 10 times. In the end, this was a really gratifying season. We shared a League title and played until the final day for a Sectional title. I’m very proud of this group and what they were able to accomplish this year.”

The Eagles were led by a resilient medalist round from one of their top golfers all season long, Anderson Wiltsey, who overcame a 12th hole 10 and quickly recovered to provide a match-low round of 81. Sam Cool finished behind him with his round of 90. Aiden Freeman chipped in with a 97, while Jameson Rhett finished off the scoring with a 116.

“Anderson was unreal today,” Parks said. “After going even on the front, he had a disaster 12th hole with a 10, but quickly came back to take an 81 on the match. It’s just a great culmination of his physical ability, but also his mental toughness and maturity to overcome setbacks. I also thought Sam played his best golf of the season. He was just steady all day and put together a great round. He’s really taken a step forward this year.”

Naples was led by Matt Lincoln, who fired a team-low round of 86 for the Big Green.

The Eagles season on the links has officially reached its conclusion, as they put a wrap to a campaign that saw them go 11-2 overall. The team will graduate eight seniors in total, including three match regulars in Wiltsey, Freeman and Alex Hatch.

For Parks, there will be big shoes to fill come next Spring.

“We graduate eight including three regulars in Alex, Aiden and Anderson,” said Parks. “Alex was a newcomer to matches this year and he showed consistent improvement as our No. 6. Aiden has gone from a practice player to one of the stars of our team as a senior. And then there’s Anderson, who’s been in the starting lineup for five years and will leave us as one of our most decorated golfers. He certainly went out with a bang by taking his game to a new level by playing the best golf of his career during Sectionals.”