Golf: Westhampton Beach claims first county title
The Hurricanes defeated No. 2 Sayville by a 7-2 margin to end a four-year drought in the Suffolk County team championship.
By David Almasi ·
Westhampton Beach defeated No. 2 Sayville by a score of 7-2 on Monday to claim its first Suffolk County team championship in program history. The victory at Pine Hills Golf and Country Club in Manorville capped a 15-1 fall season for the No. 4 ranked Hurricanes.
The team had reached the county semifinals three times in the previous four years but failed to advance, losing the final two attempts on the last hole. Monday marked the first time the program secured the county crown.
The day began with a tense semifinal against No. 8 Huntington. Westhampton Beach's top three players, Nico Arena, Danny Schumacher, and Benny Presutti, lost their individual head-to-head matches by a combined 13 strokes. The team relied on its back-end players to secure the advancement.
Caden Padavan, Oliver Webb, and Giles Norton won their respective matches by a combined 16 strokes. This performance gave the Hurricanes a narrow 278-281 victory over Huntington, sending them to the final against Sayville.
In the afternoon final, Sayville took an early lead after Arena and Schumacher both recorded double bogeys on the first hole. The Hurricanes responded immediately. Schumacher parred six of the next holes to finish his nine-hole card with a 41, a score four over par.
Arena followed with a 43, paring seven holes. Presutti won his match by five strokes. The combined score of 216 to 220 secured the team victory.
First-year varsity head coach Connor Davis noted the resilience of his players. He stated that the older players were relieved after the morning semifinal, while the younger golfers stepped up in a critical moment. Davis said the team had discussed this opportunity since the first day of tryouts, emphasizing the need to play a strong nine holes.
Davis highlighted specific plays during the final. He said Schumacher hit a 4-foot putt on the ninth hole to create a lead. He noted that Arena saved par from 6 inches after hitting his third shot over the green on the eighth hole, preventing a swing in his opponent's favor.
The coach also praised Presutti for what was likely his best match of the season. He said the junior players contributed significantly down the stretch to ensure the team won the championship.
Westhampton Beach will play a Nassau County champion for the Long Island Championship on June 1 at Bethpage Black. The opposing team has yet to be determined.
