Great Neck District girls golf, three boys individual winners had what it takes to win state titles
Great Neck earned its first state girls golf championship. Credit: Photograph by Brian Rath
Great Neck District girls, team state champions
The girls golf team state championships began in 2019 for New York. Great Neck District had won every Long Island title since then but had never been able to take that next step.
It looked as if it was going to be the same story this year, as Great Neck trailed Victor by five strokes after the first day. But this year’s team wanted things to be different.
“They were up here five times,” Great Neck coach Matt Corrigan said. “To finally win it is just pure joy. I shed a few tears."
Caylin Wong, a senior and six-year player, saved her most meaningful performance for last. On the second day, Wong shot a 1-under-par 71 with six birdies to lift Great Neck to a state championship.
“This is what she does,” Corrigan said. “She hit a ton of birdies and performed so well. When you go under par, that certainly helps.”
The Great Neck depth kicked in and proved to be the difference throughout the postseason run.
In the Nassau championships, a young Jericho team was right there with Great Neck after the first day, with both teams tied at 393. But Great Neck pulled away, finishing with 808 strokes compared to Jericho’s 818.
In the Long Island championship, Great Neck and Southampton were locked in a close battle through the first group. But once again, the depth of Great Neck became the story of its special season.
Lele Liu and Cherry Wang helped create separation. A six-stroke lead turned into a 48-stroke advantage as Great Neck captured another Long Island title.
"We got the job done," Corrigan said. "The girls worked so hard for this.”
RYAN LIU, Manhasset, state public school champion
Ryan Liu of Manhasset won the state public school golf championship. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
It took serious intestinal fortitude for Manhasset freshman Ryan Liu to immortalize himself in New York State golf history.
He fired a 6-under-par 136 over a 36-hole, two-day public school state tournament on the Championship Course of Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville on June 7-8. His score tied with Friends Academy senior Charles Nevin, sending them into a playoff for the title on the 18th hole, which reached a second round before Liu ended things with a two-putt birdie off a strong drive.
Though the extra two holes do not count on his scorecard for the match, they count toward his legacy. It was his calm demeanor in overtime that won him the title.
“It was stressful, but I didn’t go into panic mode,” Liu said. “I missed a lot of putts today, so on that last putt, I was just saying to myself, get this near the hole and don’t do anything stupid.”
ZACH BERGER, state Federation champ
Zach Berger of Westhampton won state Federation boys golf title. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Zach Berger finished second in the state Federation boys golf championship last June. This June, he moved up a rung.
The Westhampton standout took the title at Bethpage Black with a short putt for par on the first playoff hole after both he and Charles Nevin of Friends Academy had carded 3-over 74s.
“It’s great to win my senior year,” Berger said. “I put a lot of work in my game. I can definitely see the progression in my maturity, my physical game and in everything throughout the past three years playing in this tournament.”
Berger advanced by finishing fifth the previous week in the state public schools tournament. His Hurricanes team played in the fall season. The Loyola (Maryland) commit repeated as the Suffolk champ last October.
He credited coaches Fred Musumeci and Connor Davis for his success this month, saying, “They did a great job preparing me for these events in the spring.”
JACOB ANDERSEN, state CHSAA champion
Jacob Anderson of St. Anthony’s won the state CHSAA boys golf title. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Jacob Andersen didn’t look in pleasant spirits in Pleasant Valley.
He shot an 80 to tie for 32nd in the 2025 state CHSAA boys golf championship tournament at James Baird State Park Golf Course.
“It was not my best performance,” Andersen said, flashing back this June.
This time, the St. Anthony’s senior from Medford was smiling above the 18th green.
Andersen beat teammate Joseph Boron with about a 35-foot birdie on the first playoff hole to claim the state title after both had shot 3-under 68s.
“It means a lot,” Andersen said. “. . . Really something I was hoping for, and I’m happy I finally got the state champ.”
The Farmingdale State commit had put in the time to get that prize. His winning birdie was his fifth of the day.
“I’ve been working on my game a lot,” Andersen said. “. . . I made a bunch of putts. The pieces were coming together of the puzzle. Everything just felt connected.”
