CARMEL – Joe Carey worked over the field in the most unassuming way possible.
The junior from Yorktown went back-to-back at the Section 1 Boys Golf Championship, closing with a 3-under 69 at Centennial Golf Club on Tuesday and winning by an eye-popping 10 shots. Carey posted a 4-under total of 140 and will be heading to states for a fourth straight year with plenty of momentum.
“I just kept my game strong,” he said. “I’m hitting it good so it’s pretty easy.”
Nobody made up ground on Carey on Tuesday, he was the lone player under par in the final round and was four shots better than anyone else in the field. Greeley junior Ken Fernandes was tied for the lead after the opening round at Tamarack last week but withdrew during the final round.
“I don’t really get stressed,” Carey added. “I just keep going shot to shot. I’m more consistent than I was last year and I’m making a lot more putts. This is exciting but I have bigger goals. It starts with states.”
He tied for second at last year’s NYSPHSAA championship.
For the second year in a row, Carey’s twin brother Kurt was the Section 1 runner-up. He was 3-over Tuesday and finished with a 6-over total of 150.
“I just go out there and play, I don’t think about my score or moving on until the last putt drops,” Kurt said.
The brothers have played countless rounds together over the years, mostly at Mohansic, so Kurt saw this kind of dominance coming.
“It’s fun to watch really,” he added. “He practices a lot, stays consistent, puts in long days, comes home from practice, eats and works out, so he deserves it.”
Graham Erickson of Rye, Stephen Hartenfels of North Rockland, Ryker Kevorkian of Rye, Derek Bisceglia of Rye, Sam Gao of Scarsdale, Finn Kahl of Mamaroneck and James Nemeth of North Salem will be joining the Careys at Mill Creek Golf Club in Churchville for the NYSPHSAA championship June 7-8.
Nemeth won a three-for-one playoff with an eagle on the second extra hole.
The top 20 finishers earned all-section status.
2026 Section 1 Boys Golf Championship
Final round
At Centennial Golf Club
1. Joe Carey (Yorktown) 71-69-140
2. Kurt Carey (Yorktown) 75-75-150
3. Graham Erickson (Rye)73-78-151
4. Stephen Hartenfels (North Rockland) 77-75-152
5. Ryker Kevorkian (Rye) 80-73-153
6. Derek Bisceglia (Rye) 81-73-154
7. Sam Gao (Scarsdale) 79-76-155
7. Finn Kahl (Mamaroneck) 82-73-155
9. James Nemeth (North Salem) 73-84-157
9. Liam Kilduff (John Jay-East Fishkill) 82-75-157
9. Jack Lerner (Mamaroneck) 76-81-157
12. James Strauss (John Jay-Cross River) 79-79-158
13. Tim Kenny (Bronxville) 81-78-159
13. Nolan Patel (John Jay-East Fishkill) 80-79-159
13. Thomas Ruhahan (Bronxville) 77-82-159
16. Charlie Molloy (Rye) 77-83-160
17. Mikey Lelli (Mamaroneck) 76-85-161
17. Luke Dhingra (Scarsdale) 77-84-161
17. Beau Woody (Briarcliff) 80-81-161
20. Niklas Schaper (Greeley) 83-80-163
20. Mannix Verderosa (Clarkstown South) 80-83-163
22. Noah Leder (Blind Brook) 83-84-167
22. Ryan Mascali (Rye) 83-84-167
24. Ryan Pollitzer (Blind Brook) 83-85-168
24. Jaxon DiStasio (Yorktown) 83-85-168
24. Jackson Weller (Putnam Valley) 82-86-168
27. Wally Ryder (John Jay-Cross River) 81-88-169
28. Pierce Lawler (Nyack) 83-88-171
29. Sean Newman (Byram Hills) 79-94-173
30. Lucas Kaplan (Ardsley) 80-97-177
Edward Chen (Scarsdale) 80-WD
Ken Fernandes (Greeley) 71-WD
Max Pollitzer (Blind Brook) 78-WD
Daniel Porpora (Harrison) 81-WD
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Joe and Kurt Carey go 1-2 at Section 1 boys golf championship again
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