Newsday's All-Long Island boys golf team 2026

Newsday Boys Golfer of the Year: Zach Berger, Westhampton, Sr.

Zach Berger’s regular high school season ended in the fall. But the state public schools championship and the state Federation championship were on the agenda for June.

He was ready, though, to take on the best.

Berger finished fifth in the state tournament at the challenging Mill Creek Golf Club in upstate Churchville.

And then he finished first via a one-hole playoff in the Fed tournament at the ultra challenging Bethpage Black.

“I credit my coaches, Fred Musumeci and Connor Davis, at Westhampton Beach,” Berger said. “They did a great job preparing me for these events in the spring. It’s great to come away with the win.”

The six-year member of the varsity came away with Newsday Boys Golfer of the Year for the second straight year. Berger also repeated as Suffolk champ last October.

Now Berger can look ahead to playing for his next team — Loyola in Maryland.

“I’m super excited to do that,” Berger said. “Playing Division I college golf has always been a huge goal of mine, and I’m proud to have accomplished that . . . I’m just going to keep working on my game, keep working on my mindset, keep believing in myself and see what the future holds.”

FIRST TEAM

Jacob Andersen, St. Anthony’s, Sr.

Andersen tied for eighth in the NSCHSAA tournament, then shot a 3-under 68 — 12 strokes better than in 2025 — and took the state CHSAA title with a 35-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. Andersen, who’s a Farmingdale State commit and a Medford resident, also finished 15th at the Federation tournament. “It was a successful senior season, which is credited to the work he put in the last few years,” coach Quintin Volpe said.

Colby Baran, Riverhead, Sr.

Baran tied for eighth at the Suffolk championship, then tied for 18th in his third trip to the state public schools championship. Baran, who plans to play club golf at Alabama and then try to become a pro, went 50-0 in league competition and helped lead Riverhead to two conference titles over his five varsity seasons. “He’s an outstanding young man and he’s really committed to the game,” coach Steve Failla said. “Golf prepares all of us to overcome adversity and still perform our best, and Colby has learned that.”

Joseph Boron, St. Anthony’s, Soph.

Boron finished in a tie for eighth in the NSCHSAA tournament before placing second for the second straight year in the state CHSAA tournament, this time in a one-hole playoff after shooting a 3-under 68, four strokes better than in 2025. Then the Holbrook resident came in third in the Federation tournament, moving up from ninth as a freshman. “Really good development,” coach Quintin Volpe said. “ . . . Two years in a row finishing that highly (at the state tournament), it just kind of shows his competitive edge and his willingness to win and his ability to compete at the highest level.”

Ryan Liu, Manhasset, Fr.

Liu continued to excel at a young age, finishing as the Nassau tournament runner-up before taking the state public schools championship in a two-hole playoff after shooting 6-under 136. He also tied for 12th at the Federation tournament. Coach Mike Tarnowski praised his effort in winning the state title, saying, “For that young kid to go play against seniors and people who have three, four years of golf on him already, to be so mentally strong . . . I think it’s a true testament for the work he’s been putting in throughout his whole career. He’s such a technical player, too.”

Charles Nevin, Friends Academy, Sr.

Nevin won the Nassau title for the second straight year, shooting a two-day total of 1-under 141 at Bethpage Blue and Red for a one-stroke win. Then the Williams commit was the runner-up in the state public schools championship and the Federation championship, falling in a playoff both times. Coach Bob Kaible called him “a complete golfer who plays his best when his best is needed.”

Harry Wolk, Half Hollow Hills West, Sr.

Wolk tied for second in the Suffolk championship for the second time in three years and then tied for 20th at the state public schools championship, his program-record third straight appearance in that tournament. He plans to play club golf at Ohio State. “He’s an all-around great golfer and a great person, too,” said Chuck Bartolotta, who has retired after 26 years as Hills West’s coach. “He is very long off the tee . . . He’s got a great mind for the game.”

Ethan Yao, Manhasset, Fr.

Yao was third at the Nassau championship but didn’t participate in the state public schools championship. Instead, he nearly made the U.S. Open at age 15, playing against pros in a qualifier and tying for eighth. He missed the cut by just three strokes after carding a 1-over 143 for two rounds at a pair of courses in Purchase. “There is still so much learning but also so much room for growth still, as crazy as it sounds,” coach Mike Tarnowski said.

Newsday Coach of the Year: Bob Kaible, Friends Academy

Kaible’s Quakers claimed the Nassau championship and the Long Island crown for the first time since 2022. Kaible, in his second season, coached the Nassau individual champ with Charles Nevin repeating, and then saw Nevin finish as the state and Federation runner-up. Kaible also coached Akash Agarwal, a Quakers senior who made the state tournament.