Islip's Dolan tops at NYSPHSAA golf championship
Even when the putts weren't dropping, Christian Dolan still managed a top 10 finish in his final high school tournament.
"It's not the best week I've had," Dolan said, "but it's still a good way to end it."
For the second straight year, the Islip senior had the best finish among Long Island representatives in the NYSPHSAA boys golf championships, shooting 9-over-par 81 in treacherous conditions on the first day and a 3-over 75 Monday to finish with a combined score of 156 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course. He finished 14 strokes behind the winner Yarik Merkulov of Penfield High School. Merkulov shot even-par 72 followed by a 2-under 70.
"My putting wasn't that great but I was able to make up for it off the tee," Dolan said. "I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of good shots onto the greens. I just didn't really drop the putts that I had to."
Dolan, who finished second in the county tournament, was one of three Suffolk golfers to finish in the top 20 and qualify for All-State. East Islip junior Brian Allmendinger tied for 17th with a combined score of 158 (78-80) and Suffolk County champion Frank Amicizia, a junior from Kings Park, finished tied for 19th with a 159 (81-78).
Other members of Suffolk, who finished sixth as a team out of 11 sections, included Bay Shore's Jack Maerki (81-81-162), Deer Park's Kyle Morris (82-86-168), Half Hollow Hills West's Brandon Jaffe (91-80- 171), Ward Melville's Tom Jannace (94-83-177), Longwood's Justin DiMarco (89-90-179), and Smithtown West's Tom Burton (94-88-182).
Kurt Brey, of the back-to-back Long Island champion Dalers, led the Nassau golf team with a 9-over 81 on the first day and 7-over 79 Monday for a combined score of 160. Mepham senior Adam Larkin, who tied for 47th place last year with a 164, improved by three strokes, shooting 9-over 81 and an 8-over 80 for a 161. Syosset eighth-grader Matt Csillag, who qualified for states by winning a playoff hole in the county tournament, shot a 164 (80-84) and should be a fixture on the Nassau state team throughout his high school career.
Rounding out the Nassau team, which finished seventh, was county champion Matt Lowe (86-81-167) and his Farmingdale teammates James Darcy (88-79-167) and Kyle Brey (89-86-175), Lynbrook's Matt Hirsch (87-80-167), Jericho's Sahil Iyer (93-87-180), and the lone girl on the boys team, who came in second in counties, Kelly Shon of Port Washington (88-79-167).
McQuilling wins CHSAA
Griffin McQuilling shot a 2-under 69 at James Baird State Park to win the CHSAA state tournament. The Chaminade junior shot a 2-under 32 on the front nine en route to a three-stroke victory.
McQuilling was one of six Long Island products to finish in the top 10 at the tournament, which included golfers from Buffalo and New York City. Christian Grecco of St. Anthony's took third with a 2-over 72. Andrew Valenti, also of St. Anthony's, won a playoff hole to take seventh with a 3-over 73, edging out Chaminade's Jack Williams, who finished eighth. John Reali and Bobby Keating of Chaminade each shot a 3-over 74 to finish ninth and 10th, respectively.
The top six finishers advance to the Federation Tournament Sunday at 9 a.m. at Bethpage Black.
