On Thursday, May 28, senior Danielle Greene shot a 5-over-76 to attain an overall score of 152, winning the Suffolk Girls Golf County Championship. After being a member and leader of the Ward Melville girls golf team since seventh grade, Danielle finally achieved her goal of county champion, a goal that has eluded her and the Ward Melville golf team as long as it has existed. She is the first golf county champion in Ward Melville history.

During the tournament, Danielle had two setbacks that might have deterred her from the county championship, but was able to overcome both with proportionally impressive performances. Although both days she had a bad hole on the back nine, she managed to finish each day with an impressive score of 76.

According to her coach, Mr. Richard Glasheen, this demonstrated her mental poise and toughness developed over the years. In the end, she won the county championship by eight points over fellow competitor, Alexa Niven of Smithtown East.

“It felt like I had accomplished one of my many goals over the years,” Danielle said. “I redeemed myself after losing by one stroke last year.”

After coming second in the county last year by one stroke and third in the county sophomore year, this victory is a great relief to Danielle. With her splendid and impressive victory at the county championships, Danielle will continue her season at the upcoming NYPHSAA State Championships, where she is expected to perform well and has the potential to be state champion. Last year, she placed fourth in the state and hopes to place in the top three this year to medal.

Danielle has done an incredible job balancing her athletic performance with school. This fall, Danielle will attend Millersville University in Pennsylvania where she plans to major in  meteorology.

“Travelling with the golf team is what I’m most excited about, and making more goals for myself and achieving them.” Danielle said. “I hope to possibly become a teaching professional for golf, coaching kids on how to play and maybe a coach for a high school or college team, like Coach Glasheen.”

“Danielle has been the epitome of the type of outcome one should expect when you put in the hard work.  I have basically watched her grow from a shy seventh grade girl surrounded by seniors twice her size, to a dominant player and team leader who is respected by her teammates and even more so by her opponents,” said Coach Glasheen.  “She and I joke around because watching her grow up over the last 6 years makes me feel like I’ve raised a third daughter. She will be sorely missed.”