Manhasset, N.Y. St. Johns University alumni Jesse Fitzgerald (Sayville, N.Y.) and Joe Saladino (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y) were members of the Long Island Stoddard Trophy Matches Championship team. The Stoddard Trophy Matches pit teams from three member sections of the Metropolitan Golf Association against each other; the competition began 80 years ago. The team from Long Island defeated Westchester, a team that current Red Storm players Andrew Svoboda (Stamford, Conn.) and John DeForest (Cottekill, N.Y.) played on, 19 = to 18 =, while New Jersey finished third with 16 points.

Fitzgerald and Saladino were paired together in the morning foursome matches and did not get off to a good start. The duo lost both of its foursome matches and looked to improve in the singles afternoon matches. In the afternoon, Saladino came out strong and won both his singles matches, 3 and 2 and 1 up, respectively. Fitzgerald continued to struggle and only picked up a half a point when his singles match against his Westchester opponent finished all squared.

Svoboda and DeForest were not paired together in the morning matches and each golfer was able to earn one point for the Westchester team. In the afternoon, Svoboda swept both his singles matches 3 and 2 and 1 up. DeForest earned an afternoon split defeating his opponent from Long Island, 3 and 2.

Svoboda and DeForest are two of the top returnees for the Red Storm golf team in 2002. The duo is expected to help lead St. Johns to its third straight NCAA tournament berth.