BC’s Criscione wins Bergen individual golf title by Greg Mattura of The Record
KENILWORTH – Jimmy Criscione never let another golfer come anywhere near the lead.
The Bergen Catholic senior won the Bergen County Dan Luciano Individual Golf Championship by six strokes on Thursday evening at Galloping Hill Golf Course.
Criscione shot 4-over-par 75 for a two-round total of 1-under 142. He closed his Crusaders’ career in style, sinking a 2-foot putt for birdie on the 18th hole after hitting a pitching wedge uphill from 107 yards.
He arrived at Galloping Hill with a four-stroke lead after shooting 5-under 67 at the Bergen County Odell Nassar Memorial Team Championship, which serves as the first round for the Luciano.
“Today I went out there like it was a new day,” said Criscione, who had a stellar final three weeks of his senior year. “I was trying to be more in the moment, and in between shots, I paid attention to my breathing and that calmed me down.”
Four players finished at 148 and a USGA tiebreaker determined places two through five:
Bergen Catholic junior Chris Lee was runner-up after closing with 72. Westwood senior Christopher Lee was third after shooting Thursday’s best score of 71.
“Today’s conditions were a little bit tough,” said Christopher Lee, who had two birdies and two bogeys. “The course is playing a little long today, the wind was a bit of a factor. You had to get the yardage right, and a lot of my putts were falling.”
Ramapo’s Ian Lee was fourth after carding 77, and Tenafly’s Jacob Lim was fifth after also shooting 77.
Criscione birdied his first hole and no one came closer than three strokes. He played his back nine at 1-over 36 to double his three-stroke lead to six strokes.
“As far as pressure, I didn’t really think of it like that,” said Criscione, who will continue his golf career at Monmouth. “I used my nerves as energy to help me focus more.”