By: Redd E. Patrick
As usual, the expectations are sky high for the South Brunswick High School golf team.
A season ago, the Vikings:
Finished 18-1-1.
Tied for the GMC Red Division title.
Finished third at the GMC Tournament.
Placed sixth at the Central Jersey/North Jersey Group IV Tournament.
Broke the school record at Bunker Hill with a team score of 170.
Despite all that success, the Vikings were not satisfied.
With an experienced group, the school was looking to become the first Viking team to win a Middlesex County/GMC Tournament title and become the first team from the school to qualify for the Tournament of Champions (teams must finish first or second at the Group championship).
Although No. 1 man Tom Poorten graduated, the Vikings return everyone else, plus a large group of promising sophomores. That’s why the expectations are so high again.
"We’re looking for a real big year," said senior Tony McCracken, who played at No. 3 last year with a 38.2 average. "Our first six players are all capable of shooting par and we have a good group of sophomores who are very good too. We don’t have a clear-cut No. 1 player because all of us are capable of being No. 1 on a given day.
"We really want to win our division, win the GMC Tournament, shoot under 170 at Bunker Hill and qualify for the Tournament of Champions. We think we have the talent."
McCracken and fellow seniors Marvin Bebawi, Chris Ardolina and Paul Kauders will lead the way, along with sophomores Phil Kauders and Ryan Cohen.
When the Vikings beat Old Bridge 201-216 to open the season on Tuesday at Bunker Hill, that was the starting six. On a cold and rainy day, the Vikings didn’t expect to shoot well, but Bebawi shot 39, Ardolina, Phil Kauders and Cohen each shot 40 and Paul Kauders 42. McCracken’s score of 44 was thrown out.
"When one of us has a bad day, like I did, the others try to pick him up," said McCracken. "With the guys we have, it’s really a team effort."
While the opening day lineup featured six letterwinners, competition will be tight throughout the season. Sophomores Brian McCracken, Bobby Ayala and Ryan Stewart are all anxious for playing time, along with junior Matt Ruffalo, who came out for the first time and has impressed in the preseason.
"We have a very good mix of veterans and good young players," said McCracken. "We’re looking to do a lot of big things this season."
South Brunswick took on John F. Kennedy on Wednesday, but a big early-season test will come Thursday when the Vikings host rival St. Joseph. Last year, the two teams split the season series, while also splitting the division title.
"The St. Joseph match is always a big one," said McCracken, who would like to celebrate his birthday with a victory. "Beating them would be a nice way to get things going for us."
