The talk in Shore area golf has been the strength of the Class ADivision. It reared its competitive head again at the Shore Conference Championships where the top-four teams all came from within the division. Three of those teams were from the Freehold Regional District, which speaks volumes for the caliber of golf played here.
Marlboro led the local contingent finishing second (317), four strokes ahead of Howell (321), which was followed by Colts Neck (326).Manalapan was seventh (334), giving the District four of the top seven teams and A North, five of the top seven.
They all trailed Christian Brothers Academy, which won its third straight conference title with a team score of 308.
Marlboro’s Keith Markowitz was the low scorer for the District, carding a 73 on the Charleston Springs south course in Millstone. He was just one stroke from being in a playoff for the championship. Mater Dei’s Ryan McCormick birdied his 18th hole for a round of 72.
Howell’s Corey Chance was fourth after shooting a 74.
Colts Neck’s Nick Polovino and teammate Pete Inglese and Freehold’s Rick Morgan, tied for 17th after carding 79s.
Howell’s Kyle Barrett, Colts Neck’s Andrew Schonholtz andMarlboro’s Dan Nitiutomo finished in a tie for 21st with each scoring 80.
Manalapan’s Rob Perrone and Nick Lisciandro and Marlboro’s Brett Markowitz, Keith’s twin brother, tied for 27th at 81.
Tom Martino and Trevor Rockhill of Howell and Max Weiss of Marlboro tied for 35th with 83s, while Manalapan’s pat Dileo tied for 42nd (84).
With the wealth of talent within the division, the race for the championship has been extremely competitive with everyone knocking everyone else off.
Howell (12-2) and Marlboro (10-3) are positioned to win A North.
The Rebels have a one-game lead at this point in the public school chase. But, the two teams will play at Battleground, Marlboro’s home course, on Tuesday in what should be the match that determines this year’s champion.
With both having beaten CBA, the overallANorth title iswithin their grasp aswell.