GOLF
By: Tim Falls
Even the Bulldogs’ best wasn’t enough.
The Hopewell Valley Central High School varsity golf team recorded its lowest round of the season, but still lost to Allentown, 198-210, on Tuesday.
It was the sixth straight loss for the Bulldogs, after starting the season with an 8-1 run.
Andrew Glander led Hopewell with a 38 on the Cream Ridge golf course, while Steve Marsh followed with a 39.
Despite the recent spree of losses, Hopewell coach Bill Russell felt his team was ready for the Mercer County Tournament at Mercer Oaks yesterday.
The recent losses came against some of the Colonial Valley Conference’s toughest competition, and while the Bulldogs haven’t added to their wins in awhile, they are playing good golf.
"210 is our lowest of the season," said Russell. "I’m proud of my guys. I’m impressed, they did it away on an unfamiliar course."
Before Allentown, Hopewell suffered back-to-back losses to Princeton.
"We had a tough stretch," said Russell. "We started off real nice, 8-1, but we had a strech where we lost the last six. We’re still fighting and we’re ready for the county tourmament."
Russell has high hopes for Marsh, in particular. Marsh had an incredible performance last year in the county tournament, finishing 12th with a score of 78.
"The last two days he’s shot in the 30’s," said Russell. "He’s playing his best golf right now. If his putting holds, that’s where he admits he’s been having trouble, he can do well. If he hits his putts, we’ll get some real nice scored from him."
This year, Russell said his top three could all shoot in the high 70s or low 80s.
Greg Franzblau shot a 43, Steve Hall had a 44 and Nick Brookes shot a 46 against Allentown.
Hall led Hopewell with a 38 against Princeton in their first match-up last Thursday, a 198-216, loss.
Marsh carded a 41, Glander had a 43, Franzblau had a 44 and Travis Wolfe and Liz Hotchkiss both shot a 50.
Glander had Hopewell’s low in the Hopewell’s rematch against the Little Tigers, a 202-216 defeat.
Glander shot a 39, Marsh and Franzblau both shot a 41, Wolfe had a 47 and Hall had a 48.
"My top three guys have been shooting high 30s, low 40s, consistently," said Russell.
That could work toward Hopewell’s favor in the county tournament, since only the top four scores are counted for the team total.
"The way my top three have been playing, I’m pretty encouraged by that," said Russell. "If we can have one more guy have a really good round we can be right up there."
Russell said he’s expecting his Bulldogs to finish anywhere from fourth to seventh. Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro South are the favorites, but there are several talented teams in contention.
Allentown could pose a problem, considering the Red Birds have handles Hopewell twice already, on Tuesday and earlier the week before.
"We had some good rounds," said Russell, "but they shot better."
Lawrence is also in the mix. The Cardinals defeated Hopewell, 210-233, last Wednesday. Glander, Franzblau and Hall all shot a 46 for Hopewell in that loss.
After the county tournament yesterday, Hopewell was scheduled for a match against Princeton Day School today (Thursday).
"That’s a match we can win," said Russell. "They have a great golfer, but that’s a winnable match. We have a couple of very winnable matches coming up."
While Hopewell is on a losing streak, it was the Bulldogs’ early wins that helped them qualify for the state tournament.
Hopewell will compete in the Group II Championship at Centerton Golf Club on Monday. Even though Hopewell hasn’t been winning, Russell said his players have been shooting their best.
"We’re playing our best golf," said Russell. "Unfortunately, so is everybody else."