O.B. golf team on verge of state tournament berth

The Old Bridge High School golf team is off to a fine 7-4 start, and needs to win one of its next two matches to qualify for the NJSIAA tourney.

Coach Nick Renzi’s team is slated to meet Edison this afternoon and East Brunswick on Friday.

The Knights are coming off a quad match on Monday at the Glenwood Country Club that saw them shoot 221 to defeat J.P. Stevens and North Brunswick, but it wasn’t enough to down unbeaten South Brunswick, which shot 198.

Perhaps the best news on Monday was Dave Scalamonti’s 38-stroke performance. The defending Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) champion had gotten off to a slow start, but is rounding into form, according to Renzi. Scalamonti, a senior, is a long hitter who is generally good on the green.

Sophomore Rolland Gesimondo, who shot a 43 on Monday, has twice recorded 40s this season. Renzi noted that Gesimondo manages the course well and relies on accuracy to get the job done.

Other key players include seniors Ryan Downing, who hits long off the tee, and Kevin Ballo, whose improved putting has made him a regular. Sophomore John Aresta, who shot 41 on Monday, has shown excellent potential. In addition, seniors Adam Chenziski and Chris Salsman, juniors Tom Bernhard and Andrew Vento, and freshman Chris Piassk also see playing time.

"Now that the weather is getting better and everyone is playing more often, I think our team will get stronger," Renzi said. "Our goal is to be in the mix at the GMC tournament and to get through the preliminary rounds of the state tourney and then see what happens."