Westhampton's Zach Berger wins state Federation boys golf championship
Zach Berger of Westhampton hits from the rough at the 18th hole during the state Federation boys golf championship at Bethpage Black on Sunday. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Zach Berger and Charles Nevin headed up the green hill together toward the 18th tee, toward the beginning of the end Sunday at famed Bethpage Black.
This was the first playoff hole to try to decide the best of the best in New York high school boys golf.
Berger, the Westhampton senior and two-time Suffolk champ, placed second in this state Federation championship last year and fifth in the state public schools championship last Monday. Nevin, the Friends Academy senior and two-time Nassau champ, lost in a playoff last Monday.
Both finished their Fed round at 3-over 74. Then Nevin had a bogey. So there was Berger needing to sink about a 2 1/2-foot putt for par and the win.
He didn’t miss. Berger was the best of the best.
“It just shows that all my hard work paid off,” said Berger, who’s bound for D-I Loyola in Maryland. “It shows my belief in myself and my work ethic.
“I’m proud to represent Westhampton Beach High School and to have done that for the last six years. It’s just really special to win at this highest level of high school golf in New York.”
The Williams-bound Nevin had frustratingly fallen in a second straight playoff.
“This one hurts as well,” Nevin said.
He had a 4-foot putt for par on 18 that would’ve given him the win in regulation. It lipped out.
Still, being second best out of the state’s best was impressive.
“I do take pride in knowing that I am, you could say, second best; you could say tied for first,” Nevin said. “… It’s satisfying.”
St. Anthony’s sophomore Joe Boron placed third, carding a 77.
“I didn’t have the finish I wanted,” Boron said, “but I was happy to be out here and hopefully I can do better next year.”
Manhasset freshman Ryan Liu, the state public schools champ, shot an 83.
“Everything was a little bit worse,” Liu said. “Or maybe it just feels like that because the course is harder.”
Over at Bethpage Red, Southampton sophomore Elie Poremba was also an impressive second best in the girls Federation championship.
Elie Poremba of Southampton at the state Federation golf championship at Bethpage Black on Sunday. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
“It means a lot,” Poremba said.
The Suffolk champ posted a 6-over 76, five back of Rome Free Academy’s Rachel O’Rourke and two ahead of third-place Taerin Lee, a Jericho seventh grader.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming into this tournament,” Poremba said. “I’m really pleased with how I did.”
