Friends Academy's Charles Nevin wins second Nassau boys golf title
Charles Nevin of Friends Academy wins the Nassau boys individual golf championship on the Bethpage Red Course on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Friends Academy’s Charles Nevin’s final putt dropped. Seconds later his teammates ran down the hill to the 18th hole of Bethpage Red and stormed the green to drench him in Gatorade and water.
“That was incredible. I didn’t expect that,” Nevin said of his teammates. “I didn’t know I won until they started cheering. But the Gatorade and water down the back, that was just the best feeling in the world.”
It was a long day of battling to get back to the top of the leaderboard. Nevin rose to the occasion, winning his second straight Nassau individual championship and helping Friends Academy win its first team championship since 2022 on Wednesday.
“My teammates told me we won the team championship and that meant even more to me,” Nevin said. “I cared more about that this year, but why not do both, right? Best of both worlds.”
The senior shot a two-day total of 1-under-par 141 across Bethpage’s Blue and Red courses.
Heading into Day 2, Nevin trailed by three strokes, but then responded.
He shot par on the first five holes before bogeying the sixth. After that, Nevin caught fire.
The senior didn’t bogey again. He birdied the eighth hole and then birdied the 16th, which broke a tie with Manhasset freshman Ryan Liu and gave him a one-stroke lead.
“He’s clutch,” Friends Academy coach Bob Kaible said. “He makes big putts when needed. If he bogeys a hole, he bounces back and can birdie two holes.”
Friends Academy was second in the team competition after Day 1. It trailed two-time defending champion Manhasset by four strokes before battling back to finish first with 766 strokes.
“Yesterday, to be behind and come out on Day 2 and grind was big,” Kaible said. “A couple of guys who were out of the individual running really battled. Those extra shots were the difference, on top of Charles Nevin and Akash Agarwal playing well. Those guys fighting down the stretch was huge.”
Manhasset finished second with 772 strokes. It was led by Liu, who finished second with 142, along with fellow freshman Ethan Yao finishing third and eighth grader Brad Kim placing seventh.
“The sky is the limit,” Manhasset coach Mike Tarnowski said. “Golf is the hardest game in the world. For them being so young, I am so excited for them and the program is looking up.”
All three qualified for states, but Yao will have a different opportunity. He will compete in a U.S. Open qualifier in Purchase during the weekend of June 7.
“I’m pumped for him,” Tarnowski said. “He knows he’s going up against professionals, but it’s going to be unbelievable. It’s a great experience for him. I’m going to be proud of him no matter what. Fingers crossed he plays some good golf and plays Shinnecock in June.”
Along with Nevin, Liu, Agarwal and Kim, five other golfers qualified for states: Emerson Stumpf (Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK), Dylan Tong (Syosset), Alex Ornstein (Massapequa), Zachary Hirsch (Bellmore JFK) and Jaxon Wong (Great Neck).
