MacDonell leads Sayville to LI girls golf title
Sayville's Julie MacDonell tees off at the first tee. (June 2, 2010) Credit: Photo by Joseph D. Sullivan
When Sayville won the Long Island girls golf title three years ago with a freshman-laden team, it seemed as if a run of championships had started for the Golden Flashes.
But Garden City Maroon had other ideas, taking the 2008 and '09 titles. Wednesday, Sayville got its crown back as the Trojans ran into a three-headed buzzsaw.
Julie MacDonell shot a 1-over-par 73 and, along with fellow seniors Cynthia Cheng (78) and Jenn Clinton (80), helped Suffolk's premier team prevail over Garden City by 13 strokes (428-441) in the Long Island Team Championships at Sunken Meadow Golf Course.
"To me, this just feels surreal," Cheng said. "But I knew my teammates could pull it out for us."
Garden City's deep roster kept it within striking distance. Eighth-grader Sam Sessa and sophomore Alex Michelini shot 85s and senior Erica Gambardella posted an 86. With a shot-making star on the other side, that would not be enough.
The Harvard-bound MacDonell, who finished second at the Suffolk championship, posted a par 36 on the front nine and was still at par until a bogey on the 145-yard, par-3 17th hole pushed her to 1 over.
"I was so nervous out there that I was practically shaking," MacDonell said. "But this title is just so special."
MacDonell harnessed those nerves into a virtuoso exhibition. "Great people do great things," Sayville coach Tim Dillon said. "This was the best round she has ever shot in competition, and it could have been even better."
