Hopewell Valley golf
By: Jim Green
Ben Bershad was not about to lose another playoff.
The Hopewell Valley Central High School golfer, who finished second at the Cherry Valley Invitational earlier this year after losing a playoff, proved he was the best golfer in Mercer County on Wednesday, winning the county tournament at Mercer Oaks by beating Princeton’s Mike DiMeglio in a four-hole playoff. Bershad finished tied for first with DiMeglio at 74 through regulation and parred the fourth sudden-death playoff hole to win.
Bershad’s victory made it two years in a row that Hopewell has captured the individual title, as Greg Carver won the tournament as a senior last season.
"I’m just really excited that I can make putts and finish 2-over-par," Bershad said. "Besides a couple holes, I thought I hit the ball really well. I was really determined, because after losing the playoff at Cherry Valley, I thought this was my time to win."
Hopewell finished second in the team standings at 320, three strokes behind champion Princeton (317). Alex Laughlin had a huge day, finishing fourth overall at 78, while Dave Coville (82), Areeb Zamir (86) and Travis Wolfe (87) all had fine rounds.
"It’s awesome," Hopewell coach Bill Russell said. "Our team got second place with an outstanding score. Ben was just absolutely outstanding. I couldn’t ask for anything better. We’re ready for states."
Bershad made a 12-foot putt on his final hole of regulation to secure the tie with DiMeglio.
The two golfers then parred each of the first two playoff holes before bogeying the third. On the fourth playoff hole, DiMeglio missed an eight-foot putt, and Bershad sank his putt, securing the victory.
"I just told myself, ‘Hit it on your line, and it would go in,’" Bershad said. "It was kind of a mixture of I was happy and relief that it was over."
Laughlin chose the perfect day to have perhaps his best round of the year.
"He was in the fairways," Russell said. "Everything he putted went in the hole. It was an out outstanding round for Alex today."
The day, though, belonged to Bershad.
"He was just focused and determined to win," Russell said. "He lost a playoff at Cherry Valley, and he wasn’t going to let that happen again."

