By:Redd E. Patrick
Stephen Allen feels he picked the wrong day to have his first bad round of the season.
Playing in the NJSIAA Central-South Group II State Tournament on Monday at the Centerton Golf Course in South Jersey, the Monroe High School junior shot a 43-43-86.
Allen had intentions of winning the event or at least placing in the top five, which would have qualified him for the Tournament of Champions, but he was far off the pace set by Kingsway’s Tom Tallent, who won it with a 74. Chris Nesbitt of John F. Kennedy in Iselin finished fifth with a 76.
“It was a disaster,” said Allen, who didn’t hold back when discussing his round. “Everybody has bad days, I just picked the wrong time to have mine.”
Allen’s problems started right away when he double bogeyed the first hole at Centerton, a course he was playing for the first time. Allen parred the next hole and thought he might have been able to bounce back, but six straight bogeys would follow.
“I had no idea where my ball was going,” said Allen. “I was just hitting it and hoping it would land in a good spot, but nothing went well. The course wasn’t even that tough. It was just a very bad day.”
Finishing the front nine with a 43, Allen still had hope.
“But once I bogeyed the first three holes on the back, I realized I didn’t have a shot at qualifying,” admitted Allen.
If there’s one positive thing to come out of it, it’s the fact that Allen is a junior. He has one more shot next season.
“I thought I was ready for this,” said Allen, playing in his first state tournament. “But I guess I wasn’t. At least I know what to expect now and hopefully it will be better next year.”
Allen still has high hopes for the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, which will conclude the season at the Tamarack Golf Course on Thursday, May 25.
“I’m trying to get my confidence back,” said Allen. “I feel I can bounce back and have a good showing at the GMC Tournament.’’
