Gerry Mackedon leads Ward Melville to LI golf championship
Ward Melville's Gerry Mackedon with the drive during the Long Island High School boys golf team final at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York on June 1, 2016. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
During Gerry Mackedon’s six-year run at Ward Melville, his golf team went undefeated in league play, won three Suffolk County titles, and captured its first Long Island Cup.
In his final varsity team match Wednesday, Mackedon and his Patriots teammates added to this list of accomplishments, as they became the seventh team in the 32-year-history of the Long Island Cup to repeat as champions.
Mackedon, who will compete in the state tournament that begins this weekend in Ithaca, shot a 2-over-par 73 at Bethpage Black and teammate Matt Mirocco shot a 75 to lead coach Bob Spira’s Patriots over Manhasset, 415-427.
“It was close, but the whole team played well and it’s awesome to get one more for coach and go out with a bang senior year,” Mackedon said.
He played with Manhasset’s Adam Xiao, who shot a 78, in a pairing of individual county champions from Nassau and Suffolk. One of the highlights of the matchup came on the par-3 17th hole, when Mackedon sank a putt of about 40 feet for birdie.
“He was two [strokes] down on me going into 17,” Mackedon said. “I had about 40 feet, and I made it. I knew we had it in the bag after that. And I had a good teammate today that helped me out,” he added, referring to Mirocco who was playing in the group.
“Me and him are best friends, so we play pretty much every day,” Mirocco said. “To go out with the Long Island championship is pretty special.
Mirocco had a strong round himself, setting himself up with strong tee shots. “I was putting myself in great position to make par and even birdies on the holes,” he said.
Connor McGee (86), Kevin Moore (88), Ethan Vatske (93), and Palmer Van Tuyl (104) rounded out the lineup for Ward Melville.
“You really have to have that depth on your team,” coach Bob Spira said. “And Gerry and Matt both have helped that go on, because they help the other kids along. They help them with their stroke and reading putts. It helps a lot.”
“This was a great farewell tour to send me, Matt, and Gerry off into the distance,” Moore said of the team’s trio of seniors. “We’re close knit and we just love to play with each other. It was great knowing a team effort got it done.”
