Kevin Talty (L) and Michael Hebron (MGA photo)
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (July 31, 2018) – Kevin Talty of Smithtown Landing emerged victorious from a three hole aggregate playoff on Tuesday, claiming the Michael Hebron Amateur Championship at Bethpage Black. Talty was joined in the playoff by Alex Kang of Harbor Links, Jordan Kaplan of Pine Hollow and Carter Prince of Huntington Crescent, who all topped the leaderboard at 5-over 147 following the final round of the two-day event. Talty posted a birdie and two pars in the playoff to register the lowest aggregate score in the playoff and hoist the trophy.
Talty entered the final round tied for the lead and four shots ahead of the closest competitor following Monday’s opening round 3-under 69. However, he fell back to the field after five consecutive bogeys on holes Nos. 8-12. Despite his dropped shots, Talty arrived on the 18th tee knowing he still had a chance at the championship if he made a birdie.
“I’ve played this course one hundred times now. I know how hard the tee shot is into the wind and not being able to cover the bunkers, but I knew what I had to do,” said Talty. A tight approach shot and a converted birdie putt gave Talty all the momentum he needed going into the playoff.
He poured in another birdie putt on the first playoff hole, the par-four 1st, capitalizing on a quality tee shot. From there, the playoff moved on to the par-three 17th, where Talty got up and down from just short of the green to save par and head to the 18th with a one-shot lead. Talty hit another great drive on the finisher, leading him to a routine par and ultimately a two-shot win in the aggregate playoff.
After the round, Talty credited his coach, the championship’s namesake Michael Hebron, for giving him the tools to succeed, especially when things started to get away from him during the round. “He’s gotten me into good habits and good ways to think,” he said. “I was able to regroup and play in my mind what he would be saying: ‘Control what you can control, control your emotions and focus on the present.’”
Rounding out the top five in the championship were 2017 Michael Hebron champion Gerry Mackedon of Port Jefferson and Ben Mitchell of Fresh Meadow with scores of 7-over 149.
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ABOUT THE Michael Hebron Amateur
36-hole stroke play championship open to golfers who
have an established handicap at a Long Island club or
course.
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