By: Sean Richards
The South Brunswick High School golf team has already enjoyed a most successful season, especially when you consider it went to war on the links this year with only one senior.
That’s why it was going to be very interesting to see how it fared at the Greater Middlesex Conference Championships on Thursday when the Vikings took to the Tamarack West Course in East Brunswick as the impressive third seed.
"We were delighted with the third seed," said renowned South Brunswick coach Mark Kraft upon emerging from the GMC meeting. "The top four get a bye, so it shows something about the strength of your team.
"I think if we play well we can finish in the top three. East Brunswick is very good and the team to beat. But if they fall down, we have the potential to be right in the hunt."
East Brunswick beat South Brunswick last week on the other Tamarack course. It was unfortunate the Vikings didn’t get to play Tamarack West in preparation for the GMC’s.
Still, Nick Trill shot at 43 and Rich Stewart carded a 41 as the Vikings played a competitive match against the long-time EB powerhouse.
Also last week, South Brunswick rebounded from a somewhat disappointing showing at sectionals to defeat Old Bridge.
Christian Dello led the way in this match, carding a lights-out 37 at Bunker Hill. Chris Kardosh was next with a 40, followed by the 42 of fab freshman Tyler Zenda and a 43 by Trill.
"That was a big win for us," agreed Kraft. "Old Bridge is very competitive with us, so beating them had to be good for our confidence."
In addition to the GMCs, South Brunswick was to have played South Plainfield Tuesday. The top four seeds heading into the GMCs were East Brunswick, South Plainfield, South Brunswick (15-5) and Monroe.
Coupled with the recent match against East Brunswick, playing South Plainfield right before the GMCs gave the Vikings a good chance to get an up-to-date look at what figures to be its toughest competition.
In terms of individual honors, Stewart was recently named to the GMC’s All-Red Division team. Where the Viking golfers will be end up on the All-GMC team will be determined by their showing at today’s championships.

