E. Hampton's Grossman tops in Suffolk
Southampton's Zach Grossman lines up a putt on the fourth green during the Suffolk boys golf championships. (May 24, 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
East Hampton golfer Zach Grossman didn't skip a beat.
After his family moved back to Long Island, following three years of living in South Carolina, the Skidmore-bound senior carried himself (and his team) to a county championship.
Grossman defeated Sayville's Kyle Burke on the first playoff hole Tuesday to win the Suffolk individual championship at Indian Island Country Club.
Both Burke and Grossman shot even-par (144) over the two-day tournament.
For Grossman, who spent three years attending the Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, S.C., it's like he never left the Island.
"I have basically all the same friends, and nothing has changed," Grossman said. "I kind of just picked up where I left off."
Ian Lynch (152), Cameron Yusko (169), John Nolan (169), John Pizzo (175) and Jim McMullan (190) joined Grossman as the Bonackers won the team title (809), six strokes clear of runner-up Whitman (815).
"This is just a determined group," East Hampton coach Claude Beudert said. "This is the pinnacle of my career in 25 years of coaching.
"It's funny. I had very little to do with it. It's all about their hard work."
As for Grossman, Beudert said "he made all the difference."
Grossman and Lynch qualified for the state tournament, beginning June 5 at Cornell University.
They will compete upstate alongside Burke, East Islip's Brian Allmendinger (147), Smithtown East's Jesse Kovacs (151), Middle Country's Mike Miranda (155), Stony Brook's Tyler Abrahamsen (155), Bay Shore's Jack Maerki (155), and Smithtown West's Tom Burton (157).
