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MACKEY GETS MONKEY OFF HIS BACK
August 13, 2009

MACKEY GETS MONKEY OFF HIS BACK

Brian Mackey was hearing it from his fellow golfers before the Rockland County Amateur golf tournament started on Tuesday at Spook Rock Golf Course in Suffern.

By Jane McManus • The Journal News • August 13, 2009

Brian Mackey was hearing it from his fellow golfers before the Rockland County Amateur golf tournament started on Tuesday at Spook Rock Golf Course in Suffern.

"Everyone was telling me, make sure you win this since it's your last amateur event," Mackey said.

The 24-year-old from Chestnut Ridge had competed in the event, but never won it. He knew if he entered an upcoming tournament as a pro, as he plans to do, the Rockland Amateur would be the one that got away.

Well, he can move forward with a clear mind after winning the two-day event by six strokes. Mackey shot a 70 on Tuesday and a 68 yesterday for the victory.

"It was definitely a relief," Mackey said. "I've played here all my life and never won this tournament."

Stephen Scialo of New City finished in second place, backing up his opening-round 74 with a 70. Scialo, 19 will be a sophomore at Delaware.

"The course was great today," Scialo said. "I felt good, I just didn't hit enough good shots to keep me low. I thought if I could post something in the 60s I would have a chance but Mackey had me beat."

The rain held off for the tournament even as gray skies dampened other parts of the region.

Brian Kivlehan finished in third place with a combined 145 that included a 69 yesterday. A senior at Dominican, Kivlehan played high school golf with Mackey at St. Joe's.

"He's just a great player, a great guy and he's going to make a great professional in a couple of weeks," Kivlehan said.

Mackey will enter the Met Open later this month at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey as a professional, and it means that his amateur tournaments will be a thing of the past.

He qualified for the Met Open by shooting a 72 at Baiting Hollow Country Club on Long Island.

"I played well these two days, so it was a nice way to go out," Mackey said.

 

The aim of Dominican University New York is to promote educational excellence, leadership, and service in an environment characterized by respect for the individual and concern for the community and its needs. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, the university is an independent institution of higher learning, Catholic in origin and heritage. In the Dominican tradition, it fosters the active, shared pursuit of truth and embodies an ideal of education rooted in the values of reflective understanding and compassionate involvement.  Committed to building its programs upon a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, the university maintains a student-centered climate and serves a diverse community of students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The university empowers this community of learners to excel, lead and serve with integrity and to engage responsibly in the pursuit of a more just, ethical and sustainable world.  Dominican also sponsors 18 varsity intercollegiate sports that compete at the NCAA Division II level.  To learn more about Dominican University New York, please visit www.duny.edu.