St. John's University Athletics
Ballo Wins 55th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship
6/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
June 29, 2010
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Recent St. John's men's golf alum Mike Ballo Jr. defended his 2009 title successfully, winning the 55th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship on Tuesday at Metropolis Country Club.
Ballo tied for the lead in Monday's first round with a 2-under 69 and shot 71 and 68 in Tuesday's final two rounds to finish at 5-under 208 and win the Ike for the second straight year. In the third round, the Stamford, Conn., native caught fire on the back nine with an eagle on the 587-yard, par-5 11th hole and birdies on 12, 16 and 17. For the tournament, he totaled one eagle and 10 birdies and shot 6-under on par 5's.
Red Storm rising senior Evan Beirne matched Ballo's third-round 68 to surge up the leaderboard and finish tied for fifth with a 75-74-68--217 (+4). Beirne recorded seven birdies in the final round -- two of which came on par 3's (holes 4 and 9) -- and totaled 11 for the tournament. St. John's alum Joe Saladino, who played for the Red Storm from 1998-2002, tied Beirne for fifth. Saladino, the 2008 MGA Player of the Year, carded a 69-73-75--217 (+4).
Another St. John's rising senior, Mark Costanza, also carded his best score in the final round. Costanza finished tied for 28th after shooting 74-80-72--226 (+13).
