BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
After a second place at the Shore Conference Tournament and a fifth place at the NJSIAA Central-South Jersey Group IV state sectional championships, the Marlboro golf team is ready to win a championship.
The Mustangs, 9-2 in dual meets, will get that chance tomorrow at the Battleground Country Club (their home course) in a quad meet involving Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro. The Mustangs are in first place in the Shore Conference A North public school’s division and could wrap up the championship tomorrow when they go up against the teams that are their main competition for the crown. Howell handed the Mustangs one of their two losses.
Coach Stan Bryck isn’t surprised his team has positioned itself to win a title this year. The Mustangs have a fine combination of youth and experience that has jelled.
“It’s a good team,” said Bryck. “We’ve shot some low scores this year. We broke 150 twice [148s at the Pine Barrens and Battleground]. They’ve been very consistent and they all get along very well.
“Even when someone has an off day, someone always comes through,” he added.
Bryck knows his team needs to shoot a low score tomorrow to hold off three tough teams.
Seniors Brandon Weiner (who will be playing college golf at Franklin Pierce College, Pa., next year) and Brett Schultz, have provided leadership as well as solid play. Weiner is a four-year varsity letter-winner, and Schultz, a three-year starter. They have experienced it all and have passed that down to the underclassmen.
Junior Mike Desero has come into his own in the second half of the season and made school history at the SCT, becoming the first Mustang to win the individual title.
Desero carded a 74 at Howell Park as Marlboro placed second to Christian Brothers Academy (310-321).
Two freshmen, twins Brett and Keith Markowitz, have not played like freshmen, giving the team a strong balance from top to bottom. Bryck said he knew that the Markowtiz’s were talented players, but has been surprised by their consistency.
Tomorrow’s quad meet will serve as a preview for the Freehold Regional District Championships Tuesday at Eagle Oaks Golf Club in Howell. Colts Neck and Freehold Borough will join the other four in this tournament, which will also include a girls field.
Marlboro is fielding a girls team for the first time in school history. They are 2-1 in dual meets. Lindsey Silvestri, Catherine Kim, Alexa Messenger and Heather Cadden make up the history-making squad.
At last year’s District’s championships, Manalapan won the team championship and Colts Neck’s now graduated Eric LeFante won his second individual title.
The first-ever girls champion was Colts Neck’s Vanessa Tozcano.