Falcons troubles continue in states

By: Sean Richards
   The Monroe High School golf team was hoping it could take it up a notch on Monday and show it could compete with the elite teams in the NJSIAA Central/South Jersey Group III sectionals at the Running Deer Country Club in Pittsgrove.
   It didn’t happen.
   Playing in monsoon-like conditions in the bowels of South Jersey, Monroe finished well back in the pack and near the bottom of a strong field on a par 72 course.
   "Not so well," replied coach Pete LoPresti when asked about his team’s performance. "We didn’t even stick around for the final results. "We were down at the bottom. I’m not sure where exactly, but we were like fourth or fifth from last."
   LoPresti insisted the conditions had nothing to do with his team’s showing, although it would have been nice to see what the Falcons could have done on a dryer course. There was water all over the place. This made the greens soggy and the pins vulnerable to be attacked, but it also made the course play much longer.
   "It was very wet, but the conditions had nothing to do with it," said a candid and realistic LoPresti. "We have typically not played very well at states.
   "It’s a different level and a different format. We have not been able to post the type of scores we need to in order to be among the top teams."
   As is so often the case, senior Grant "The Mayor" Herring led Monroe with a 187. Freshman Sean Lawrence continued to show evidence of great things to come with a round of 190.
   Junior Evan Jones and senior Frank Ermel were next as both shot a 95 in a tournament that was won by Oakcrest. West Windsor-Plainsboro South was second on a tiebreaker over Moorestown.
   Although neither the Monroe team or any of its golfers advanced to the Tournament of Champions, there’s still the not-so-small matter of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament next week.
   Monroe, which beat New Brunswick last week to raise its glittering record to 14-4, was hoping to receive a bye at Tuesday’s seeding meeting for the GMCs and thereby avoid a preliminary-round match.
   If it did, this means Monroe would advance straight to the GMC finals at the Tamarack Golf Course in East Brunswick on Thursday.
   "I’m pretty sure we’ll get a top four seed and not have to play a preliminary match," said LoPresti. "We’ll just get prepared and see what kind of showing we can have there."