Middle Country's Miranda wins Suffolk golf title

Middle Country junior Michael Miranda won his second straight Suffolk individual championship on Tuesday, shooting an even-par 72 on Day 1 and 2-over 74 on Day 2 at Indian Island Golf Course for a 36-hole total of 146. Smithtown East won the team title with a total score of 791.

Miranda sank a seven-foot putt for par on the par-4 18th hole for the outright win, edging out Smithtown East's Tom Whelan and Sayville's Kyle Burke by a stroke.

"He's always clutch," Middle Country coach Don Matlock said. "He's calm, collected, he knows exactly what he wants to do, and he just goes out and executes. He's like a machine, he does it almost to perfection."

According to Matlock, it is the first time in 10 years that a player has won back-to-back county championships. Miranda went undefeated this year, going 12-0 to help lead Middle Country (10-2) to a share of the League II championship, its first since 1996, according to Matlock.

"It's just a wonderful feeling to know that I'm apart of his life," said Matlock, who has coached Miranda since he was an eighth-grader. "Forget golf, he's a wonderful human being. For me to be as close to him as I am and to be able to watch his success is just special."

BASEBALL

BOYS LACROSSE

Ward Melville 15, Northport 14:Emily Rogers-Healion had five goals and Kelsey Catalano score twice for No. 3 Ward Melville (14-4) in a Suffolk Class A semifinal. Ward Melville plays No. 1 Bay Shore in the final on May 30.Garden City 14, Long Beach 7: Haley O'Hanlon had three goals and four assists for No. 1 Garden City in a Nassau Class B semifinal. Garden City faces No. 2 Manhasset in the final on May 29 at Adelphi. Hackley 15, Long Island Lutheran 13: Nicole Sinacori had four goals and three assists and Carolyn Dottino had five goals for No. 3 Lutheran (16-6) in the NYSAIS final.