Joe Saladino had to get past Christopher White in the final match of the Havemeyer Trophy at Southward Ho Country Club in Bay Shore, N.Y. Saladino did it with two holes to spare, effectively winning this event for the third time.
Saladino, 39, is a former St. John’s University golfer who founded Manhattan’s first golf gym several years ago. The Huntingdon, N.Y., resident is a regular at the U.S. Mid-Amateur, and last played the U.S. Amateur in 2010.
In Saturday’s final match, Saladino went 1 up on the first hole, and carried that advantage through the first half of the match. He went 2 up on No. 11 and was 4 up by 15 tee. White couldn’t mount a comeback large enough or fast enough.
To reach the final match, Saladino had to take down two-time defending champion Jonathan Jeter in the semifinals. He did that, 4 and 3. Saladino also got past Kyle Ritchie and Merv Smith in the four-round bracket.
