Boys golf: Scarsdale's Leo Chu holds steady in the wind, captures Section 1 championship
HOPEWELL JUNCTION – Leo Chu was dialed in right from the start.
The blustery conditions required extra math and extra layers Wednesday at Trump National-Hudson Valley, but the Scarsdale sophomore solved all the variables. He began the final round two strokes off the lead and was situated atop the leaderboard in a matter of three holes.
Chu patiently shot a 1-over 73 to claim medalist honors, finishing the championship with a 5-over total.
“It was a really good round,” he said of his first trip around the property. “We had really tough conditions out there with very fast greens and the wind, oh my God, the wind was something else.”
Round 1: Harrison junior Tommy Mangan is again in play for the Section 1 title
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The scores backed that observation up.
Only five players broke 80. Chu made nine pars, four birdies, three bogeys and one double and finished three shots ahead of Harrison junior Tommy Mangan.
Carmel senior Luke O'Grady-Rodgers also carded a 73 to match the low round of the day.
“I try to forget every shot even if it’s a good shot,” Chu said. “I just play simple golf and try not to think about anything. My irons were really solid today. I stuck everything inside of 20 feet and made some putts. I feel like I’ve accomplished something here, but it’s one win in my golf career. Now I’m looking forward to states.”
Chu is headed to the NYSPHSAA tournament for the first time and will be joined by Mangan, O’Grady-Rodgers, Greydon O’Keefe of Bronxville, Kevin Wang of Eastchester, Taishu Arak of Woodlands, Dean DiGuglielmo of John Jay-Cross River, David O’Shaughnessy of Bronxville and Joe Carey of Yorktown.
The championship will be played June 4-5 at Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira.
Mangan came into the final round with a two-shot edge after carding a 2-over 72 at Waccabuc Country Club on Monday.
“Waccabuc fits my game a little better,” he said. “It’s more open off the tee and I can take advantage of my length. I hit a lot of irons off the tee here. It’s really tight, just not my style of golf course and it kind of shows in my score."
Last year’s runner-up was 4-over after three holes. He was even par over the back nine, closing with a 78.
“I was definitely thinking about the lead a little too much and that’s probably what got me the first couple of holes,” Mangan said. “I didn’t go play my game like I should’ve.”
The top 20 finishers earned All-Section 1 honors.
Section 1 Tournament
Round 1 at Waccabuc C.C. (par 70); Round 2 at Trump National - Hudson Valley (par 72)
1. Leo Chu (Scarsdale) 74-73-147
2. Tommy Mangan (Harrison) 72-78-150
3. Luke O’Grady-Rodgers (Carmel) 78-73-151
4. Greydon O’Keefe (Bronxville) 78-76-154
5. Kevin Wang (Eastchester) 75-80-155
6. Taishu Arak (Woodlands) 77-82-159
7. Dean DiGuglielmo (John Jay-Cross River) 81-80-161
8. David O’Shaughnessy (Bronxville) 85-77-162
9. Joe Carey (Yorktown) 81-82-163
10. Jack Yaggi (Fox Lane) 79-85-164
11. Vinny Michello (Clarkstown South) 82-82-164
11. Quinn Egan (White Plains) 84-80-164
13. Mike Torre (Byram Hills) 82-84-166
13. Jonathan Tecchio (Ketcham) 85-81-166
15. Henry Hurvitz (Harrison) 80-87-167
16. Eamon Brennan (Pelham) 78-90-168
16. Edmund Cleary (Somers) 80-88-168
16. Eddie Molloy (Rye) 82-86-168
19. Cole Gerson (Scarsdale) 83-86-169
19. Matthew Choe (Scarsdale) 84-85-169
21. Owen Lane (Carmel) 82-88-170
21. Walter Oestreicher (John Jay-Cross River) 83-87-170
23. David Goldin McCarthy (Rye Neck) 85-87-172
24. Charlie van Tienhoven (Bronxville) 80-93-173
24. Henry Marlatt (Rye) 85-88-173
26. Quinlan Hood (Eastchester) 80-95-175
26. John Carney (Tuckahoe) 85-90-175
28. Derek Bisceglia (Rye) 84-92-176
28. Justin Liu (Scarsdale) 82-94-176
28. Kurt Carey (Yorktown) 82-94-176
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Final round of the 2023 Section 1 boys golf tournament
