‘Sporty’ Ardolina aids 17-0 boys golf team

By: Redd E. Patrick
   When Chris Ardolina was called out of class last month because Athletic Director Elaine McGrath ‘had to speak to him’, the South Brunswick High School senior thought the worst.
   "They called me out of class and said the AD had to speak to me, so I thought I was in some kind of trouble," explained Ardolina. "I was like ‘What did I do wrong?’ "
   It wasn’t about what Ardolina did wrong, it was about all he has done right.
   When the school’s golf standout made it to McGrath’s office, he was told that he would be the 2003 male recipient of the Greater Middlesex Conference Sportsmanship award.
   On Tuesday, Ardolina was honored along with representatives of the GMC’s 29 other members at a luncheon at the Pines Manor in Edison.
   "When they told me, I was in shock, I had no idea," Ardolina said. "I never received anything like that before. It was totally out of the blue because I wasn’t aware of the award and I don’t know who nominated me. But I was very proud to represent the school. My family was there, so it was just a great day. It’s something I will always remember."
   Ardolina doesn’t exactly know what the criteria is for the award, but he does consider himself worthy.
   "On the golf course, the game is about integrity and I try to live up to that," Ardolina said. "If everybody is out there playing up to the best of their ability and you get beat, the other player deserves it and you have to give him the credit. I’m always out there trying to help everyone. Off the course, I try to live the same way. I always want to help somebody else.
   On the course, Ardolina is one of a group of six gifted players who have lifted the Vikings to a 17-0 mark heading into Wednesday’s match vs. J.P. Stevens.
   In its last two matches, South Brunswick has been so hot, four players have broken 40.
   "We’re on a roll," said Ardolina, whose club will take on perennial GMC power South Plainfield today (Thursday). "We are all starting to play up to our potential and is now a good time with the county and state tournaments coming up."
   Over the past week, the Vikings posted five victories, including significant decisions over quality teams in Peddie, East Brunswick and Hillsborough.
   Against Peddie, the Vikes posted a 192-209 win at Bunker Hill as Tony McCracken busted out with a 36, followed by 38s from Ardolina and Paul Kauders and 40s from Marvin Bebawi and Phil Kauders.
   Against GMC foe East Brunswick, South Brunswick was up to the challenge and responded with a 190-198 decision at the Tamarack Golf Course’s Blue Nine. Ardolina led the charge with 35, followed by Phil Kauders (37), Bebawi (38), Cohen (38) and Paul Kauders (42). If the Vikings can beat East Brunswick one more time, they would clinch the prestigious Red Division title of the GMC.
   In a tri-meet with Hillsborough and Edison on Tuesday, South Brunswick shot 189 at Bunker Hill to easily outdistance its two Group IV rivals. This time is was Phil Kauders with a 36, Ardolina and Cohen with 37s, Paul Kauders with a 39 and McCracken with 40.
   "We have a lot of confidence right now because we know we have the numbers to play with the best teams in the tournaments," Ardolina said.