Westhampton Beach's Berger Wins Boys Golf Conference IV Title; Number of Individuals, Teams Qualify for Counties

Zach Berger is playing some of his best golf at the right time.

The Westhampton Beach freshman won the Sebonack Challenge with teammate Owen Jessop on October 14. A week or so prior to that, Berger shot a hole in one during a practice round on his team’s home course at Westhampton Country Club. And this past week, the young Hurricane added another item to his resume.

Berger won the Conference IV individual title at Cherry Creek Golf Links in Riverhead on October 19, shooting a 1-over par 74, besting county-title hopeful Jack Breutsch of Center Moriches by two shots.

It was thought that Berger was the first golfer from Westhampton Beach to win a conference title, but it turns out Patrick Caraher had in fact took first place at the Conference IV tournament back in 1994.

“Means a lot knowing that I’m there with some of the best golfers in the county,” Berger said. “I have a good shot at counties next week, so I have a lot of confidence building up to Monday and Tuesday.”

The Section XI Individual Championships, which Berger referenced, were scheduled to be Monday and Tuesday at Spring Lake Golf Club in Middle Island, but the wet weather that came through the region then postponed it a full week to this Monday and Tuesday, October 31 and November 1.

Berger and the rest of the Hurricanes actually got a scrimmage in against Riverhead on Cherry Creek the Monday prior to conferences. He said that helped a lot to give him a good understanding of the course, but it was still difficult playing a full 18 holes, he said, with only nine holes playing during a regular season match.

Berger was 1-over par through the first three holes last week, starting on 11. After he birdied 18, Berger was even through the first nine and went 1-under when he birdied hole three. But he had some rough holes, he said, on holes four through six, but he “didn’t let them get into my head.” He came up with what he called a clutch birdie on eight, then had an opportunity to birdie nine with a 6-foot putt, but he just missed, settling for his 1-over score on the day.

“Zach was dialed in all day. He played really well,” Westhampton Beach head coach Fred Musumeci said. “Zach, Owen and Charlie [Beasley], all three of those are talented enough to win counties. I’m hoping they’re all fighting against each other.”

Conferences serve as a good tune-up for the county meet, but it’s also where a lot of golfers make or break their seasons as it serves as a qualifier, not only individually, but for the county team tournament, which is making its return after a two-year hiatus. The cut for individuals to qualify for counties was 95. Berger will be joined by four of his teammates after Jessop (80), Beasley (82), Avery Merrihew (93) and Zach Bennett (95) all finished below that threshold. Beasley birdied the last four holes to finish the day strong.

Riverhead, which won the League VII title outright for the first time ever this season after having won a share of it with either Mattituck or Eastport-South Manor in years past, won the Conference IV team title with a team total of 414. League VIII Champion Southampton tied with East Hampton after both shot a 423, then Westhampton Beach finished a shot behind them at 424.

Riverhead and Southampton were the only two teams in the conference to qualify their top six golfers for individual counties, something Mariners head coach Tim Schreck was very proud of. In fact, every single Southampton golfer impressively shot under 90, well below the 95 cut. Liam Blackmore led the way with an 80, which placed him fifth overall individually, then Brian Emmons (82), Cooper Tracy (84), Ronan Brady (88), Jack Browne and Ethan Heuer, who each shot 89s, followed.

“That was a big hope of mine at the start of season. I’m very excited about that,” he said. “To have all six guys qualify and break 90 is really special.

“Looking forward to Monday,” Schreck added about counties. “I think the guys are looking forward to playing some really good golf. They’re amped up to go.”

East Hampton, which finished third behind Southampton and Westhampton Beach in League VIII, needed to finish in the top four at conferences to gain a wild card bid into the county team tournament and did so handily. Nico Horan-Puglia led the Bonackers with a 78, which placed him fourth individually. Trevor Stachecki (80), Juan Palacios (82), Lucas Centalonza (91) and J.P. Amaden (92) all closely followed.

“The guys did a great job all year,” East Hampton head coach Rich King said. “At conferences, they were just going out to get their best score for 18 holes. That’s really what the focus was, go out there, have fun, shoot a good round and see where they end up. It’s more of a tune-up for counties, so that’s what we prepared for.”

That left one more spot up for grabs, and Pierson/Bridgehampton took it by placing fourth with a team total of 483. They were led by Adam Drohan’s 93 and Carter Kleinsmith’s 95, both of which qualified for counties individually with those scores.

Whalers head coach Clint Schulman admitted he had his doubts his rebuilding team would be able to nab the last spot into the county team tournament for the simple fact that he had split matches with William Floyd this season and knew how historically strong both ESM and Mattituck were in League VII.

“I also knew without any uncertainty that East Hampton could get the first wild card spot,” Schulman added. “Being a small school and competing with East Hampton, Southampton and Westhampton all year, that typically doesn’t work out in other sports like that. But it’s nice to have an achievement like that where we’re able to compete. I’m ecstatic we got that wild card spot. It’s definitely a rebuilding year, so I couldn’t be any prouder of the kids.”

Hampton Bays head coach Pete Meehan only brought four of his top golfers to conferences, basically conceding one of those wild card bids to the county tournament. He only took golfers who were averaging a 50 or better, which included Erik Sandstrom, Mike Poremba, Rieve Nydegger and Jamie Moore. Of those four, both Poremba (86) and Sandstrom (89) will be representing the Baymen at counties.

Suffolk County set up the first two rounds of the boys golf tournament, which begin this Thursday, October 27, when No. 9 Westhampton Beach will host No. 24 Smithtown West, No. 12 East Hampton will host No. 24 ESM, and No. 23 Pierson will play against No. 10 Hauppauge.

As the sixth seed, Southampton received a first round bye and was expected to host the winner of No. 11 Mount Sinai and No. 22 Smithtown East on Halloween, but with the county individual tournament now expected to be played then, that match is most likely going to be pushed back.