GOLF
By: Tim Falls
The Hopewell Valley Central High School golf team was pretty busy winning last week.
The Bulldogs took all four of their matches last week but that streak stopped in a loss to Allentown on Tuesday and fell to 8-2.
"We had a strong week," said coach Bill Russell. "Our scores came down every time."
Hopewell Valley defeated Ewing twice, with a 214-293 victory on Tuesday, and a 218-279 win on Wednesday.
The Bulldogs also beat Nottingham, 203-213 on Thursday and Allentown, 209-214, on Friday.
"Those were matches we could have easily lost," said Russell. "Last week was the key to the season."
Hopewell Valley improved to 8-1 with the win over Allentown on Friday and secured a spot at the in the NJSIAA Sectional tournament.
"We may have locked up things," said Russell, "but my kids are not taking it easy. The know we’re in the meat of the season."
Even with a hectic schedule featuring several regular season matches, the Bulldogs managed to find time to compete at the Cherry Valley Invitational on Monday.
Ben Bershad shot a 76 in the 18-hole tournament for the team low as Hopewell Valley finished 11 with a three-player score of 244 against a highly competitive field.
Colonial Valley Conference rival West Windsor-Plainsboro South won the tournament with a score of 224, while Princeton, the defending champion, tied East Brunswick for third with a score of 228.
Bershad, who finished second after a playoff last year, finished two strokes outside the top five this season.
"He hit the ball well," said Russell of Bershad, "He said his putting wasn’t the greatest."
Immaculata’s Kevin Foley led the field with a 68, four under par at Cherry Valley. WW-P South’s Ryan Phelan shot a 70 to take second.
Hopewell Valley’s Alex Laughlin shot an 82 and Steve Marsh had an 86 to complete the Bulldogs’ score, while Areeb Zamir also competed and finished with an 87.
Bershad led Hopewell Valley in both matches against Ewing last week. The Hopewell Valley senior carded a 39 as his team hosted the Blue Devils on Tuesday. Bershad finished with a 36, 1-over-par at Mountain View Golf Course, on Wednesday.
Andrew Glander shot a 41 for Hopewell Valley in the first match against Ewing, while Alex Laughlin and Areeb Zamir each posted a 42. Laughlin and Zamir both shot 41 in the second Blue Devil match, while Steven Hall and a 43 and Greg Franzblau had a 47.
Bershad posted another 36 for the match low against Nottingham, while Marsh finished with a 39, Zamir had a 40, Laughlin shot a 43 and Franzblau finished with a 45.
Allentown’s Mike Argondizza had the match low last Friday with a 38. Bershad followed one stroke back with a 39, while Glander posted a 41, Laughlin had a 42, Marsh shot a 43 and Franzblau recorded a 44.
Allentown had the match low in a victory on Tuesday as Nick Monticello shot par, 36, at Hopewell Valley Country Club.
Argondizza stayed ahead of the Bulldogs again with a 41 in the win.
Marsh led the Bulldogs in Bershar’s absence with a 42, while Zamir and Glander each shot a 43, Franzblau had a 45 and Liz Hotchkiss carded a 46.
Hopewell Valley was scheduled to take on Lawrence yesterday and play Princeton today.

