PHS second at MCT and state sectional

By: Bob Nuse
   The Princeton High golf team had won the last two team championships at the Mercer County Tournament. And last Thursday, the Little Tigers shot 12 shots better than they had last year, yet it wasn’t good enough for a third straight title.
   While Princeton had four players shoot under 80 to record a team score of 305, it wasn’t quite enough to beat a West Windsor-Plainsboro High South team that recorded a 302 at Mercer Oaks.
   "We played respectable, but we could have played better," said Princeton coach Sheryl Severance, whose team shot a 317 last year. "A couple of strokes here or there could have made the difference.
   "The caliber of play is getting better and better. South is playing really well. I’m happy for them. If it couldn’t be us, I’m happy for them. I knew it would be tough this year. South is a good team and they have been playing very well."
   Jordan Gibbs shot a 72 and finished tied with South’s Ryan Phenlan for the best round of the day. Gibbs advanced to the second round of a playoff before Phelan emerged as the winner. Cranbury’s Peter Teifer shot a 76, while Will Madden shot a 78, Mike DiMeglio had a 79 and George Graham had an 84.
   "A 305 is a good score," Severance said. "I’m not unhappy with anyone’s score. But the kids can always find somewhere where they could have made up a shot or two. They all came in and said they could have picked up a shot here or there."
   Gibbs had the best day of all, shooting par for the day.
   "Jordan is a great player," Severance said. "He shot a 70 when we went and played at Bunker Hill. He shot a 75 when we played at Myrtle Beach, and that was a long course, over 7,000 yards. He takes it serious and he works hard. He’s going to play next year at Rutgers. He played well today. He came in thinking 72 wasn’t going to be good enough to win."
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   Princeton will be making a return trip to Monday’s Tournament of Champions, where the Little Tigers finished fifth a year ago after winning the Central/South Jersey III championship.
   This year, PHS got moved to North Jersey 2, where it faced unfamiliar foes on an unfamiliar course. But the Little Tigers played through rain and cold on Monday and shot a 332 to finish to second place to Ramapo at Overpeck Golf Club’s par-72 course in Teaneck.
   Princeton was led by Gibbs, who shot as 77 to finish fifth in the sectional. Teifer shot an 81, while Madden had an 86 and Barry shot an 88.
   "It was raining and cold and we actually stopped for an hour at one point because of thunder and lightning," Severance said. "Some of the coaches just wanted to come back the next day and some wanted to stay and finish. We stayed and finished, but the conditions were not great. It was a tough day to play.
   "I think most of the guys were a little disappointed with their rounds But I told them they have to realize the conditions they were playing in. It was not an easy day to play."
   Gibbs, who finished second at the MCT after losing in a playoff, had another strong round for Princeton.
   "Jordan had a real good day," Severance said. "He hit the ball real well and if he was putting a little better, he would have had an even better day. He didn’t miss any putts from three feet or in, but he didn’t make any of the long ones either. But he has been playing real well lately. He’s a solid player.
   "We’re looking forward to going to Rumson Country Club (for the TOC). That’s a real nice course. Hopefully the weather will be better and it will be a nice day to play."