Locust Valley’s Thomas Finn competes at the New York State...

Locust Valley’s Thomas Finn competes at the New York State Federation boys golf championships at Bethpage State Park on June 12. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy

Newsday Player of the Year: Thomas Finn, Locust Valley, Sr.

Finn followed up his second straight Nassau individual title by winning the state public school tournament with a two-day score of 138 at Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira. The senior shot 6-under 66 on the first day of the tournament.

“I kept the ball in play enough for me to give my wedges an opportunity to score,” Finn said about his first round. “I was hitting the majority of my greens. I putted really well and I ended the day draining a 30-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole, which was great.” 

His even-par 72 second round was more than enough to cement the victory, making him the fourth Long Island golfer to win the state tournament.

“It’s been a crazy process representing Locust Valley for the last five or six years,” said Finn, who has played varsity golf since seventh grade. “It’s just really cool to finish out high school with a state championship, definitely one of the better ways to do it.”

Finn will take a gap year to work on his game before heading to college.

From left: Jack Breutsch of Center Moriches, Padruig Douglas of...

From left: Jack Breutsch of Center Moriches, Padruig Douglas of Northport, Jack Estrella of Friends Academy.

Jack Breutsch, Center Moriches, Jr.

He tied for third in the Suffolk individual tournament with a 153 total score at Smithtown Landing. Breutsch tied for 20th at the state public school tournament with a 152 and made four birdies and an eagle in his 4-over 76 second round.

Padruig Douglas, Northport, Jr.

He won the Suffolk individual championship with a 6-over 150 at the two-day, 36-hole tournament at Smithtown Landing. Douglas shot a 1-over 73 on day one of the tournament.

Jack Estrella, Friends Academy, So.

Estrella placed third with a 3-over 145 total score at the Nassau individual tournament at Bethpage Red and Blue and helped Friends Academy win the county and Long Island team titles.

From left: Dean Muratore of St. Anthony's, Anthony Naples of...

From left: Dean Muratore of St. Anthony's, Anthony Naples of St. Anthony's.

Michael McConie, Chaminade, Jr.

The NSCHSAA player of the year shot 1-under 71 and birdied the last two holes of James Baird Park Golf Course to claim the Catholic state title. McConie tied for second in the NSCHSAA tournament and tied for third at the Federation tournament at Bethpage Black.

CJ Merritt, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, Sr.

Merritt shot 3-under 69 on the second day of the state public school tournament, where he placed second with a 142 total. He also took second at the state Federation tournament with a 3-over 74 at Bethpage Black. 

From left: Dean Muratore of St. Anthony's, Anthony Naples of...

From left: Dean Muratore of St. Anthony's, Anthony Naples of St. Anthony's.

Dean Muratore, St. Anthony’s, So.

Muratore shot a 3-over 75 to tie for second place at the NSCHSAA tournament at Eisenhower Red. He placed second at the CHSAA state tournament with a 1-over 72 and tied for third place at the Federation tournament with a 5-over 76.

Anthony Naples, St. Anthony’s, Jr.

He won the NSCHSAA tournament with a 2-over 74 at Eisenhower Red and helped St. Anthony’s win its second straight team championship. Naples placed seventh in the state CHSAA tournament.

Newsday Coach of the Year: Matt Johnsen, Friends Academy

He led Friends Academy to its first Nassau County and Long Island titles since 2017. Friends won the Nassau championship by 27 strokes before defeating Ward Melville 427-432 for the LI title.

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