By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The West Windsor-Plainsboro High North golf teams appear to have picked up right where they left off a year ago.
After successful seasons in 2015, both the boys and girls teams at North have started 2016 with some success. In addition, WW-P South’s Byron Chin is off to another great start on the course as well.
On Tuesday, the North boys finished first at the Bomber Tee Off Invitational, which was held at Metuchen Country Club. The Knights finished with a three-player score of 240, edging East Brunswick by eight shots for the team title. Chin shot a 74 to win the individual title.
“It was a nice day for WW-P,” North coach Mike Courtney said. “We brought home a lot of hardware for the township schools. It was nice. My kids played real consistent and had two low rounds. And Byron played great for South.”
Ben Perrine shot a 75 and Patrick Zeoli shot a 79 to lead the Knights. Jeffrey Lee shot an 86 to round out the top three scoring. WW-P South finished sixth as a team with a 253.
“I think everybody has a little more confidence,” Courtney said. “Patrick is a real good golfer who hadn’t played great in tournaments. I think in our matches he had a slow start but he played real well and shot a 79 to finish fifth. I was so happy for him. Ben Perrine, I always expect him to shoot close to par and he shot 75 and was tied for second.”
The Knights finished 11th the next day at the FDU Invitational at River Vale Country Club. Perrine’s 79 led the Knights.
“We should be pretty solid,” Courtney said. “We just have to make sure the kids playing five and six are consistent. We know our top four will be solid golfers. The kids in that five-six spot, if they are consistent, which I expect them to be, we should be very good.”
Chin started the year playing well for the Pirates, winning the title at the Bomber Invitational.
“He was third at the Garden State Cup and then he won this one.” WW-P South coach Bob Schurtz said. “It was a good day for both WW-P teams. We took home half the hardware.”
On the girls side, the local teams made a strong showing at the Red Devil Invitational at Copper Hill. WW-P North finished fourth, Montgomery was seventh and WW-P South was 10th in a field of 17 teams. Madeline Jin of Montgomery shot a 79 to finish fifth, while Jacquelyn Cai of WW-P North was 12th with an 85 and the Knights’ Kaley Bohling shot an 87.
“They played well,” WW-P North coach Tom Connolly said. “We pretty much have the same group back. We are a senior heavy team and Jackie is a sophomore who has improved so much. She played all summer long. She has been playing all year round for years. She has the same smooth effortless stroke as her brother (Charles, who is now at Dartmouth).
“The five senior came in as freshmen together and pushed each other. They went out and played and just kept pushing the other players to get better.”
The Knights are hoping for another big year after a successful season last year.
“We are looking to get to the TOC and hopefully do as well as last year,” Connolly said. “This was our first time out. We had some matches postponed. So for the first time out there as a team they did well.”
The Knights will once again be participating in the Birdies for Breast Cancer fundraiser. Individuals can make a flat donation or make pledges based on the number of birdies the team records. Last year their efforts raised over $2,000. The money goes to Cristie Kerr’s Birdies for Breast Cancer Charity.
Interested individuals can see any team member for details.
