Newburgh Free Academy’s Yan brothers have been making a name for themselves on the Section 9 boys’ golf scene for the last two seasons
Now, they have an opportunity to show the rest of the state who they are.

Sophomore Mark Yan and his eighth-grade brother, Josh, finished first and third on Thursday at the Section 9 tournament on Thursday at McCann Country Club to clinch their first trip to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association boys’ golf championships, starting Sunday the Mark Twain Golf Course in Elmira.

“It feels good because we actually can prove how good we are in this state, and not only this section, which is really nice considering last year we had COVID and all these things happening,” Mark Yan said.

Mark and Josh Yan finished the first round on March 24 at the Powelton Club tied for the lead with 74 strokes each.

Mark had a better second day than his first and finished the two-day tournament with a 146. Warwick’s Brendan Boudreau, who was tied for seventh place after day 1 was eight strokes better on day 2 and leapfrogged Josh Yan to finish second.

Mark shot a 72 on the second day to secure his section straight Section 9 championship. He, however, didn’t feel any pressure to repeat.

“I knew a couple of people that were pretty good left last year, so I thought it would be a little easier year after year because seniors are going to go and leave less competition,” Mark Yan said.

Josh Yan, who is often tasked with keeping up with his brother, felt a little bit of pressure.

“I was thinking about playing the way I play and not really worrying about other people and just sticking to my game,” Josh Yan said.

Josh Yan shot a 77, falling one stroke behind Boudreau and taking the third place and received the section’s third spot at the state tournament, the first state boys’ golf tournament since 2019.

The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and even though Mark and Josh Yan finished first and second at last year’s Section 9 tournament, the ongoing pandemic caused the NYSPHSAA tournament to be canceled.

“It feels better to go because now I can show I’m the best in the state, and not just best in the section,” Mark Yan.

Newburgh coach Jim Nee said Mark and Josh Yan are not only the best golfers in Newburgh, but among the school’s best athletes.

“They are 24/7/365,” Nee said. “They’re all about golf. They’re great young men, but when they get on the golf course they are focuses and they’re getting it done.”

They only have one more scholastic tournament in front of them and Nee, also the Orange County Golf Coach of the Year, said he projects they could finish within the state’s Top 20 golfers.

“I steer the ship and they keep it moving right,” Nee said.