Golf squad finishes strong

Golf

By: John E. Powers
   The miserable weather that plagued New Jersey this spring could have undone the Hopewell Valley Central High School golf team.
   But the Bulldogs, led by coach Skip Johnson, never lost focus through the rain, heavy winds and cold and soggy course conditions.
   Hopewell Valley finished its season with a 19-2 record by beating its last four opponents of the season. The Bulldogs beat Ewing (188-242), Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division power Lawrence (200-206), Hamilton (200-333) and Princeton (206-236) last week. The team finished right behind West Windsor-Plainsboro North in the CVC Valley Division race.
   "These kids were really, really into it," Johnson said. "It meant a lot to the kids and the seniors to finish the season as strong as they did. I’ve had kids in the past who started out as freshmen with so much promise, but for one reason or another, kind of lost focus their senior or junior years. That didn’t happen with this group.
   "We played through all kinds of slop this spring. The kids never asked if we would practice, or where, but when."
   Junior Greg Carver led the team for most of the season. Carver, who Johnson believes could be a contender in the Tournament of Champions next year, qualified for the event this year, played strong early but stumbled late in the 18-hole round at Burlington County Golf Course.
   Hopewell Valley had one winner in the TOC in 1997, when Dave Schmutz won it the same year the Bulldogs won the team title in a playoff.
   "I think he (Carver) is capable of (winning it)," Johnson said.
   Johnson had special praise for his five seniors: Brandon Rust, Matt Castagna, Brian Orland, Andrew Varhley and Joe Tirpak. Rust had an outstanding finish to his season. Rust and Tirpak were four-year starters, while Castagna played for three.
   "Brandon Rust ended the season with five straight sub 40s," Johnson said. "He played as if he had something to prove to himself."