BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity golf team battled cold, drizzly conditions and the defending champion Kent Island for six hours at the Man O’ War course at Glen Riddle to capture the Bayside Conference championship by a mere seven strokes.

The Seahawks rode a match-low performance by Matt Rugiere, who shot 38 on both the front and back nines at Man O’ War to finish with a 76, to edge defending Bayside Conference champion Kent Island, 419-426, to take the title. Ruggiere was paired with Brooks Holloway (88) against Kent Island’s Carter Bradford (95) and David Shields (88) in the day’s final pairing that finished in the near dark and cold rain.

Decatur’s number-one Joe Iacona shot an 80 to edge Kent Island’s number-one Jack McCahan, who finished with an 83. Kent Island’s Bryce Young and Chase Kelm each shot an 80 to edge Decatur’s Andrew Urban (89) and Delaney Iacona (91). The two teams were scheduled to battle head-to-head again yesterday in District VIII play the River Marsh course in Cambridge.