HoVal knows it needed to be better

Princeton golfers shoot par in Bulldogs’ loss.

By: Tim Falls
   Shaky and inconsistent play won’t win a match against the Princeton High School golf team.
   Hopewell Valley Central High School senior Ben Bershad wanted to be at his best, but instead, said he played inconsistent as the Bulldogs’ golf team hosted Princeton at Hopewell Valley Country Club on Tuesday.
   Likewise, Alex Laughlin said he got off to a shaky start and that didn’t help Hopewell’s cause in the 197-215 loss.
   "They’re such a good team," said Bershad of Princeton, the defending Mercer County Champions. "You want to be your best against them."
   Bershad took the Mercer County individual championship last season as the Bulldogs took second to Princeton in team scoring. Princeton led Hopewell Valley by five strokes.
   Princeton finished plenty of strokes ahead yesterday with Jason Barry and Peter Teifer shooting par, 36.
   Laughlin had Hopewell Valley’s low score. Laughlin’s 40 still fell four strokes behind the par’s Princeton recorded.
   "I was hoping to break 40," said Laughlin. "I started off a little shaky."
   Laughlin got off to a rough start in the first match after spring break.
   "I doubled the first hole," said Laughlin. "I clumped a chip shot then missed a putt. After that first hole I had to admit I was nervous. After that I tried not think about who I was playing, just play my own game."
   Laughlin focused on his putting and sank his shots to lead Hopewell Valley’s shooters.
   "I tried to put that behind me and make putts, that’s where you score," said Laughlin. "My putting bailed me out."
   Laughlin pointed out the eighth hole where a chip shot over flew the green and wound up cradled in the roots of a tree. The Hopewell Valley senior managed to put the ball on the green and sink the putt.
   "I had a chip shot against the tree," said Laughlin. "I hit a nine-foot slider. I needed that putt."
   Laughlin sank the shot, but could not get ahead of Teifer, who carded one of Princeton’s two par scores.
   "Against a team like Princeton," said Laughlin, "you want to hit fairways and greens and be putting for birdie on every hole."
   Even though Laughlin had a little trouble in certain spots, Bershad envied his consistency.
   "Alex played well," said Bershad. "Alex was Alex. He was steady and hit a lot of fairways." As for himself, Bershad just expected better.
   "This is my home course," said Bershad, "so I have no excuses."
   Bershad matched his opponent, Princeton’s Jordan Gibbs. Both shot 41.
   "Jordan started off with four pars," said Bershad. "I started off pretty poorly, but came back with a couple of birdies at the end."
   Bershad birdied the seventh hole and finished his round with a birdie on the ninth hole.
   "It was an easy tee-shot, but a tough putt," said Bershad. "It was a right to left slider that I put a confident stroke to and it went in."
   Bershad would have needed a few more birdies to give Hopewell Valley an advantage over Princeton.
   Along with the two 36s and the 41 by Gibbs, Gordie Graham had a 41 and Jon Bichsel and Curtis Smith each shot a 41.
   Areeb Zamir finished right behind Bershard for Hopewell Valley. Zamir carded a 42, while Andrew Glander had a 45.
   Greg Franzau and Travis Wolf each shot a 47 for the Bulldogs.
   Hopewell Valley fell to 3-1 with the loss.
   The Bulldogs are scheduled to play Trenton, today (Thursday) and will take on Allentown on Monday.
   After that, Hopewell Valley has back-to-back matches against Ewing. The Bulldogs host the Blue Devils on Tuesday and then play Ewing at Mountain View on Wednesday.
   Hopewell Valley completes its week with a match against Nottingham at Miry Run next Thursday.
   "I think we can go the rest of the way winning against all the teams we face," said Laughlin. "We see Princeton again and I think the next time we play we might be able to steal one from them."
   The two teams have rematch on Thursday, May 4, at Springdale Golf Club.
   Before that, Hopewell Valley will compete in the Cherry Valley Tournament on Monday, May 1.
   Bershad finished as runner-up in the Cherry Valley Tournament after falling in play-off holes last season.