Ben Pirro Wins 2021 Michael Hebron
Farmingdale, N.Y. (July 8, 2021) - Ben Pirro of Long Island National claimed the 2021 Michael Hebron Championship at Bethpage Black with a total score of 4-over for the 36-hole championship.
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Pirro, a senior on Xavier University's golf team, acknowledged the significance of winning the championship on the famed Black Course. "It's one of the toughest courses in the world, so I felt like I really golfed my ball this week," Pirro says. "You couldn't really fake it around here so I feel like I played a really good tournament."
The site of three major championships, the Black Course lived up to its reputation as a challenging course this week. "The wind was definitely tough, and it started the really pick up...the heat as well," Pirro said. He carded an even-par 71 during Wednesday's first round, followed by a 4-over 75 on Thursday.
The wind primarily became a factor during the back-nine of Pirro's final round as a storm approached the course. It led to some inaccurate tee shots and difficult approaches. Pirro said that he trusted in his training to get the job done.
"My mental game was the best part of my game this week," Pirro said. "I work really hard, and so there's no reason I can't come out here and win every time I feel like. I think that the floodgates are going to finally open and I think I'm going to start competing much more consistently at the top of the leaderboard."
Nassau's Colby Anderson and Colin Dolph and Ben Mitchell of Fresh Meadow also finished two strokes behind a 6-over for the championship. Jack St. Clair of Sands Point finished at 8-over. A total of 44 players made the cut after the first round with scores of 10-over or better.