KINGSTON, N.Y. — Teenage sensations Ty Monroe and Alexandra Young turned in dominating performances in capturing the Wiltwyck Golf Club’s men’s and women’s club championships, respectively, on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Kingston semiprivate golf course.
Monroe, a junior at Saugerties High, jumped out to a 6-up lead after nine holes on the way to claiming his first club championship with a 6 and 5 victory over Mike Hein in the 36-hole men’s match.
Young, entering her senior year at Onteora High, took her second consecutive women’s club title with a 7 and 6 win over Marlboro sophomore Alexa Trapani. Young was 3-up through 18 holes and then extended her lead to 6-up through 27.
Monroe, who turned 16 last weekend, never allowed the 60-year-old Hein to catch his breath as he came out flying. He shot 3-under for the first nine holes of the match to take a quick 6-up lead and he was comfortably ahead the rest of the way.
Monroe said a year ago he lost to Hein 5 and 4 in the quarterfinals in his first appearance in the club championship.
“Today I really found a groove and made a lot of birdies,” Monroe said. “I hit the ball well and putted well. I had so much confidence. I would just commit to every shot. I felt like I couldn’t miss. Mr. Hein is very good. His wedges are good. He hits it really good. I’m happy with the win.”
Monroe also likes an additional bonus that comes with the win. The men’s and women’s club champions each get a reserved parking spot in the front row of the parking lot.
“I get a parking spot that I can’t even use right now,” he laughed.
Hein wasn’t surprised with his opponent’s stellar performance.
“He’s such a gifted young man and, more importantly to me, he’s a pleasure to play with,’ Hein said. “He’s an incredible example of the next generation. At 16 years old, his future is very, very bright. We’ve played a number of matches against each other and what’s become very clear every step of the way is that’s he’s gotten better and better. Hopefully, he’ll play golf at the next level. He’s going to be a dominant force around here for a long time to come.”
Hein said it was nearly impossible to catch up to Monroe even when he tried to rally at the end of the match.
“The last five holes, I went birdie, par, birdie, par, birdie and didn’t gain a stroke,” Hein said. “I went 3-under and didn’t gain a stroke.”
After Hein canned a 25-foot birdie putt on the 31st of the match (the par-4 13th), Monroe closed him out by knocking in a 15-footer for birdie.
Hein said that birdie put Monroe 6-under for 31 holes.
“That’s pretty special golf,” he said.
Young, who turned 16 in March, has already been making good use of her special parking place in the Wiltwyck lot that goes to the current women’s club champion.
Young played consistent golf by shooting a 1-over 75 over the first 18 holes to take a 3-up lead over Trapani, the 2024 Ulster County Women’s Golf Association (UCWGA) Championship winner. Young fired an even-par 37 on the third nine of the match to build her advantage to 6-up through 27 holes and closed out the match with a birdie on the par-5 12th hole (30th of the match).
“I had a really great competitor playing against me,” Young said of Trapani. “It was a tough battle, but I made it through. It’ll be nice I’ll be able to keep the parking spot. I’ve been using it a lot this summer.”
Trapani thought the difference between the two competitors came on the putting surfaces.
“My putts just weren’t going in,” Trapani said. “And she (Young) just kept making putts. She was making 20-footers like it was easy. It was fun to watch, though.”
Originally Published: August 24, 2025 at 4:41 PM EDT
