St. Anthony's golfer Dean Muratore wins NSCHSAA individual championship
St. Anthony's Dean Muratore chips onto the green during the CHSAA boys golf team and individual championships at Eisenhower Park on Monday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Dean Muratore had one more box left to check.
The St. Anthony’s senior golfer and the 2023 Newsday Player of the Year had already claimed last year’s CHSAA state crown, but he had never won the NSCHSAA League Tournament. That changed Monday.
Muratore shot a 3-under par 69 on the Red Course at Eisenhower Park to win the NSCHSAA individual title by three strokes. The Michigan commit also helped the Friars secure their third tournament title in four years, as St. Anthony’s five best golfers’ cumulative score (378) was 31 strokes better than second-place Chaminade.
“I worked really hard on my driving, I’ve always had distance, just that was working well today,” Muratore said. “Hitting my iron shots and wedge shots close on my approach shots on the par 5s definitely helped. Putting was a little tricky out there, but having five eagle putts – I don’t know if I’ve ever had five eagle putts – that’s pretty special.
“I was just out there having fun. I’ve played against those three kids (in the foursome), I’ve known some of them for like two, three years and made it special having my last school round playing with them. So I definitely looked forward to today, and I’m glad I was able to win.”
Muratore’s high school career is over as he will not defend his state title on June 3 at James Baird State Park in Pleasant Valley. Instead, he will be playing for a chance to make the U.S. Open at the final qualifying round at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, New Jersey, after advancing from the local qualifier with a 2-under par 69 at Cold Spring Country Club on April 29.
“I’m definitely excited,” Muratore said. “Kind of sad I can’t defend my title, but at the same time I just hope one of my teammates wins it.”
Nicholas Prosa and Joseph Mayal finished tied for second Monday with 3-over par 75s. Finn Tyrer finished tied for fifth (79) and Aryan Patel finished seventh (80) to help the Friars seal the victory.
“The senior class, a very special group – Dean Muratore, Joe Mayal, especially,” St. Anthony’s coach Chris Koepplin said. “They were incredibly competitive wanting to get back on track this year after falling short last year. So getting three out of four is really exciting for this senior class.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
