Tracy stands her ground with the elite

By: Rich Fisher
   Golf can be so mental, it can hurt the brain at times. The worst thing is, that mental anguish can come in various forms.
   The most obvious is a golfer being upset by their performance. But they could also be psyched out by watching others play better, which is what happened to Kerri Tracy last summer.
   The South Brunswick High senior, who has carded two 49’s, a 50 and 53 in the Viking girls 3-1 start, played in a Junior PGA Tournament at Rossmoor Golf Course in Monroe, and had a bad outing.
   "I was paired with three girls who were amazing and it psyched me out mentally," Tracy said. "I did not do well all day."
   Fast forward to two weeks ago, when Tracy shot a 90 at the Hunterdon Central Invitational at Copper Hill Country Club. She finished sixth out of 50 while playing with Paramus’ Kasi Lee, the No. 2 player in the state, and J.P. Stevens’ Sarah Feldman, who beat Tracy by three strokes in last year’s GMC championship (42 to 45).
   " I knew I was playing with Kasi Lee, and for some reason it didn’t do anything to me this time," Tracy said. "I guess I’ve gotten past that (intimidation)."
   Nor is Tracy intimidated by the fact Feldman is back to defend her GMC title. Tracy is taking dead aim on winning the crown this year, despite the fact there will be stiffer, deeper competition. In last year’s event, Tracy and Feldman were tied after six holes but Feldman birdied No. 7 while Tracy triple bogeyed.
   "And that was that," she said with a laugh.
   Tracy began golfing at age 9, tagging along behind her dad as he hit practice shots in open fields.
   "I thought it was pretty cool, I started getting lessons and I really liked it," she said. "I got clubs and started playing."
   She took lessons at Golf Digest School in Edison until it shut down, and now takes them from former PGA pro Lloyd Monroe at Fairway Golf Center in Piscataway.
   Tracy began playing competitively as a freshman for the Vikings, and has been in the regular lineup all four years.
   "She’s definitely gotten better," coach Jaymee Boehmer said. "She’s pretty consistent, usually stays in the 40’s.
   "She really has a gorgeous golf swing. She’s not a real heavy hitter, but she’s a smart player. She knows how to manage a course."
   But the best golf swing in the world won’t help a player on the green, and that is where Tracy has been disappointed in herself this season.
   "I started out pretty rough with my putting, but I’m doing a little better now. I shot 42 in a practice round today," she said on Tuesday. "But I honestly have not done well in a (dual) match yet. My putting has been off. Those greens were fast at Copper Hill, I don’t know how I did it there.
   "But my putting seems to be getting better, and I’m getting more distance with my driver now."
   There is still plenty of time left until the GMCT to get straightened out, and another good tune-up will be the first annual Bunker Hill Girls Invitational at the Vikings home course Monday. Tracy will be teamed with classmate Priyanka Chinchani in an event that will feature 17 two-girl teams.
   "I’m looking forward to see how she does there," Boehmer said.
   Tracy, Chinchani and Connie Chen are all four-year veterans for South Brunswick. Tracy says some of her progress can be traced to help from past teammates, such as Lisa Nicolaison and Brittany Boyd.
   "They’ve been helpful, they’ve helped me with my shots and my mindset," said Tracy, who will play golf for Division I Central Connecticut next year.
   "I started e-mailing the coach back and forth, I was interested in the school," Tracy said. "I wanted to go to Rutgers, but this is better for me. I want to go into marketing and they have a good marketing program."
   And before she heads for CC, Tracy would love nothing better than to market herself as a GMC champion.
   19th HOLE: The Vikings beat East Brunswick 208-232, in their lone match last week. Chinchani had a 47, Tracy a 49 and Chen and Courtney Snyder a 56 . . . The Vikes were at Moorestown on Wednesday.