St. John's University Athletics
Mike Ballo Jr. Wins the New York State Open at Bethpage Black
7/20/2019 11:07:00 AM | Men's Golf
Former St. John’s golfer claims prestigious
The St. John's men's golf program was well represented this week at the New York State Open, as former Johnnie Mike Ballo Jr. claimed the individual title at the prestigious Bethpage Black.
Ballo closed out the three-round tournament at four under to finish ahead of Pound Ridge, N.Y., native Rob Labritz on the first sudden death playoff hole.
With the win, Ballo becomes the fifth St. John's golfer to claim the individual title, joining Mark Mielke (1992 and 2003), P.J. Cowan (1997, 1998 and 2000), Jesse Fitzgerald (2004) and Andrew Svoboda (2007 and 2018).
Current St. John's assistant golf coach and father of head coach Mal Galletta III, Mal Galletta Jr. also claimed the local title in 1979.
A 2010 graduate from St. John's, Ballo was named a unanimous All-BIG EAST selection and a member of the PING All-Northeast Region Team after leading the Johnnies with a 73.66 stroke average as a senior.
Peter Ballo, who played two seasons at St. John's, finished three strokes back of his older brother to place fourth overall in the standings.
For the Ballo brothers, golfing runs in their bloodline. Their father, Mike Ballo, was a professional golfer in the 1960's and 70's, competing in three U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships. Their mother, Page, was an All-American standout during her career on the women's golf team at the University of North Carolina.
Many other former St. John's golfers played in the event, as the 2001 BIG EAST Champion Svoboda finished in a tie for fifth. Matt Sita, Greg Bisconti and Dylan Crowley qualified for the tournament. Sita placed 17th while Bisconti and Crowley closed out play in a tie for 39th.
Ballo closed out the three-round tournament at four under to finish ahead of Pound Ridge, N.Y., native Rob Labritz on the first sudden death playoff hole.
With the win, Ballo becomes the fifth St. John's golfer to claim the individual title, joining Mark Mielke (1992 and 2003), P.J. Cowan (1997, 1998 and 2000), Jesse Fitzgerald (2004) and Andrew Svoboda (2007 and 2018).
Current St. John's assistant golf coach and father of head coach Mal Galletta III, Mal Galletta Jr. also claimed the local title in 1979.
A 2010 graduate from St. John's, Ballo was named a unanimous All-BIG EAST selection and a member of the PING All-Northeast Region Team after leading the Johnnies with a 73.66 stroke average as a senior.
Peter Ballo, who played two seasons at St. John's, finished three strokes back of his older brother to place fourth overall in the standings.
For the Ballo brothers, golfing runs in their bloodline. Their father, Mike Ballo, was a professional golfer in the 1960's and 70's, competing in three U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships. Their mother, Page, was an All-American standout during her career on the women's golf team at the University of North Carolina.
Many other former St. John's golfers played in the event, as the 2001 BIG EAST Champion Svoboda finished in a tie for fifth. Matt Sita, Greg Bisconti and Dylan Crowley qualified for the tournament. Sita placed 17th while Bisconti and Crowley closed out play in a tie for 39th.
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