I’m sitting in the renovated clubhouse here at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course on the Cornell University campus. The new wireless internet connection in here would have made my life a lot easier the past two years…

Anyway, it was a very exciting day, capped by McQuaid Jesuit’s (Section 5) Dominic Bozzelli defeating fellow Section 5’er Yarik Merkulov (Penfield) on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to earn medalist honors. Both players shot a 2-under-par two-day total of 142 in regulation. Section 5 also won the team championship for the first time in 30 years.

As far as local news goes, the big story was Brewster’s Mike Miller. The sophomore carded a 2-under 70, the low on the day by two shots, to vault up the leaderboard from a tie for 17th place into solo third with a two-day total of 145.

For a second straight day, Miller missed some great birdie chances, but his score in windy conditions was obviously extremely good. He also made perhaps the par of the year, in which he hit a shot lefty from the trees and then hit a wedge from about 100 yards to 2-feet.

Other big news was that Mahopac’s Luke Feehan and Byram Hills’ Stu Kaufman both earned all-state honors. Feehan finished tied for 9th with a 150 and Kaufman finished tied for 17th with a 153. Pretty good stuff considering the two had never seen the course before Friday afternoon.

Section 1 finished third as a team, also a pretty good accomplishment considering 6 of the 9 players had never made states before. The future certainly looks bright.

Here’s the agate that will run in the paper tomorrow:

New York State golf championship (Day two)
At Robert Trent Jones Golf Course (Cornell University), Par 72
(*- denotes won in a playoff)
Top 20 earn all-state honors
1. Dominic Bozzelli (McQuaid Jesuit) 142*; 2. Yarik Merkulov (Penfield) 142; 3. Mike Miller (Brewster) 145; 4t. Mike Furci (Sayville) 146; 4t. Brandon Meltzer (Half Hollows Hills East) 146.
Local players – 9t. Luke Feehan (Mahopac) 150; 17t. Stu Kaufman (Byram Hills) 153; John Casey (North Rockland) 159; Dylan Newman (New Rochelle) 160; Drew Clayton (Somers) 161; Andrew Graham (Arlington) 161; Joe Raitano (Mahopac) 163; Marisa Kamelgarn (Mahopac) 168.

The empty course looks pretty inviting on this glorious day, but I think it’s time to pack up and hit the road for the 4-hour plus ride back. Good thing I have the new Counting Crows album to listen to. Odds are I will be making another Wendy’s stop along the way as well…