ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
By: John Beisser
In one year, Andrew Borsuk has progressed from a very good varsity golfer into one of the state’s preeminent talents.
The easy-going Borsuk goes about his business in workmanlike fashion. Like every top golfer, it’s mostly fairways and greens, with an occasional birdie putt mixed in.
At the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1-2, Group 4 Sectional Championships at Alpine Country Club on Monday, Borsuk took home the individual title with a 39-40-79. The only golfer in the talent-laden field to break 80, Borsuk did not card anything worse than bogey. He birdied the par-4 second hole and added another birdie on the back nine.
For his efforts, Borsuk is the Hillsborough Beacon Athlete of the Week.
Borsuk has been the No. 1 golfer throughout this magic carpet ride of a season the Raiders are in the process of fashioning. If not for a couple late hiccups on the last few holes of the Somerset County Championship last month at Neshanic Valley, he might have won that title, too. As it was, he finished in fourth place.
In 9-hole competitions this season, Borsuk is averaging a team-best 37.6 strokes per round. With an eye toward a potential college playing career, Borsuk is proud of his latest accomplishment.
"Alpine was really tough and narrow," he said. "The greens had a lot of slope in the front. On one hole, for example, I hit what I thought was a perfect wedge and it spun right off the front of the green and back like 30 yards onto the fairway. Someone told me it landed right next to the flag.
"We entered the sectionals pretty much blind as none of us had ever been there," he added. "Coach Parker downloaded some information about the course off the internet and made them into booklets for us. It was good information as it described the best places to hit it to on each hole. The greens were very undulated and quick. I started off putting well but then tailed off at the end."
Borsuk worked hard on his game in the off-season, and shot a 72 on July 20 that won New Jersey Junior Golf Competition in the Boys 16-18 Group at Knob Hill Country Club in Manalapan. He knew Hillsborough was going to be good this season, but the team has even out-performed his own lofty goals.
"It’s been pretty amazing," he said. "I knew coming into the year that we had a good team, that there was a good foundation. But I didn’t expect it to go this well."
Borsuk’s dream is to pursue a collegiate career and toward that end, he has been emailing the coach at his No. 1 college choice, Coastal Carolina University in Conway S.C., just minutes from Myrtle Beach. Borsuk’s family owns a condo in Myrtle Beach, which has afforded him the opportunity to become familiar with the university and surrounding area.
"Just last week I received a letter from them, telling me ‘keep up the good work’ and that there is a good chance that they will have spot for me on the team. So, I was pretty excited about it."
If Borsuk continues improving at his current pace, there may be other suitors interested in his services. For now, there is the Skyland Conference Championship at Fiddler’s Elbow to concentrate on today. On Monday, it’s a trek down the shore to the Rumson Country Club for the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions, where he will compete in the individual competition while, at the same time, try to help steer the Raiders to the team title as well.