Chaminade's Mike McConie putts on show to win state title

For all the success Chaminade boys golfer Mike McConie encountered this season, there was one area of his game that he knew would likely be the difference-maker entering the CHSAA state championships on Monday: putting. 

Much to the junior’s delight, he putted brilliantly down the stretch and closed out the event with back-to-back birdies to finish 1-under par 71 and ultimately seal the state title at James Baird Park Golf Course in Pleasant Valley.

“I’ve been hitting the ball really well lately,” said McConie, who finished two shots ahead of Dean Muratore from St. Anthony's. “My ball striking has been great, but the putter hasn’t really been there. Toward the end I made a couple of really big putts, and I think that’s what ended up winning me the tournament.”

McConie, who won every match this season leading up to the NSCHSAA individual championship where he finished tied for second, will compete at the State Federation championships on Sunday at Bethpage Black.

Chaminade coach Greg Gerner said even one of the event organizers was in awe of McConie’s remarkable performance.

“When the scorecards were starting to be handed in and 70 was written as the final score, even the guy who was running the event was shocked and said, 'That score hasn't been seen in quite some time,’ ” Gerner said. “For me, I was smiling because Chaminade was top of the leaderboard this season. To see him as top of the leaderboard for states was really representative of Chaminade's strength this year.”

“This means a lot to me,” McConie said. “I haven’t really fully wrapped my head around it because it’s such a big tournament to win. It just feels really good.”

As for what McConie will remember the most about this day?

“Probably the way I finished with two birdies on the last holes,” McConie said. “It was pretty nice to finish it off that way.”