Vikes discovering the future is now

By: Sean Richards
   While the future looks very bright for the South Brunswick High School golf team, there’s nothing wrong with what’s going on right now.
   In fact, it’s pretty darn good as South Brunswick recently avenged two losses from earlier in the year to improve to 11-4 and take a ton of momentum into Monday’s state playoffs at the Buena Vista Golf Club outside of Atlantic City.
   "We had a huge day," said coach Mark Kraft of Monday’s sweep of St. Joe’s of Metuchen and Edison. "We’re all stacked up in the (Middlesex) county rankings. This has to help us a lot."
   Playing on its home Bunker Hill course, the Vikings shot a 167. Edison came in with a 170 and St. Joe’s was also at 167. South Brunswick won, however, because its fifth score was better with Nick Trill’s 44 beating the 45 of St. Joe’s Jerry Lewis.
   To the delight of Kraft, freshman Tyler Zenda led South Brunswick with a 40. Not far behind were Rich Stewart (41), Bryant Morin (42), Christian Dello(44) and Trill.
   Earlier in the week, Kraft played four freshman and a sophomore in a victory over JFK of Iselin. To show what kind of depth the Vikings have this year, that grouping lit up Bunker Hill like the Continental Army with a 162.
   "We’ve got a great group of freshmen who are only going to get better," Kraft said. "It’s exciting."
   The main focus at this point are the state playoffs Monday and then the GMC Championships the following week. South Brunswick has a chance to make a splash in both – especially from a team standpoint.
   The Vikings have made the state golf championships the last 19 years. The top two teams from Monday’s Group IV South-Jersey section and the top five individuals will advance to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.
   "The bottom line is we have a very strong team, but we’re going to have to play a little better than we have this year," said Kraft of states. "We’re going to have shoot 75s or better to move on.
   "The good thing is we don’t have the type of team that blows up. We’re getting consistent low rounds, which means we should place well as a team."
   Following states, South Brunswick will prepare for the GMC Championships. The team has a shot at being seeded in the top four – the brackets will be drawn Tuesday night – and following it’s recent victories has a legitimate shot at finishing very high in the county.
   "East Brunswick has an exceedingly strong team, but I think we can finish as high as second," said Kraft. "We’ll be right on the edge of the top four in the seeding.
   "You never can tell what’s going to happen. Trill and Stewart are our two most consistent players, but everyone else in capable of going low."