Bergen Catholic repeats at Garden State Cup by Greg Mattura of The Record
GALLOWAY TWP. – Bergen Catholic faced its first major golf challenge of the season and again emerged as No. 1.
The Crusaders, three-time reigning Tournament of Champions titlist, repeated as champion at the 13th annual Garden State Cup on Wednesday at windy Blue Heron Pines Golf Club.
Bergen Catholic carded a shoot-five, count-four score of 304 to finish two shots ahead of longtime non-public nemesis Christian Brothers Academy and seven better than Shawnee.
“They played very well, and we played just a little bit better,” Bergen Catholic coach Jim Jacobsen said, “and that’s how you win sometimes.”
Northern Valley at Old Tappan, reigning state Group 3 titlist, shot 316 to tie for fourth with St. Augustine. Paramus was 12th with 335, Don Bosco 14th with 341 and Pascack Hills had 342 to place 15th among 19 teams.
Bergen Catholic was led by a sophomore who was not on the course when the program won last year’s TOC with a tournament-record 4-under 284. Alex Lamarca shot 2-over 74 and was fifth via a match of cards in a field of 95 players.
“It’s been a huge transition from last year, and I think that it’s all mental,” said Lamarca, who had two birdies and four bogeys on a 6,600-yard course made more difficult due to aerated greens. “Last year I was more of a rookie and I had to learn how to deal with pressure. I was more relaxed coming down here.”
“I told him his day would come, and it certainly has,” said Jacobsen, who had said Lamarca was his best player during the preseason. “He’s playing great right now.”
Bergen Catholic is all about the depth and its three All-State players contributed to the scoring. Junior Dan Yam shot 75 and was ninth via match of cards. Junior Chris Lee shot 77 and senior Jimmy Criscione 78.
NV/Old Tappan fared well with the 316 in its debut in the GSC. Junior Sam Yom shot 74 and was runner-up via match of cards, two shots behind winner Doug Ergood of Lenape. Ryan Lee shot 77 and fellow junior Chan Park 79.
“I think the boys want to go a little lower,” NV/Old Tappan coach Tom Quinn, “but for the first match of the season, I thought it was a good round.”
Paramus’ 335 was respectable. Eric Waxman shot 80 and fellow seniors James Rendine 81 for a program that also has Group 3 aspirations.
“We played fine,” Paramus coach Paul Barnes said. “With the conditions, with the aeration of the greens, [Rendine] said he didn’t make a putt outside five feet. Normally we putt better than that.”
Don Bosco is rebuilding and viewed its 341 as a starting point. Senior Toby DiPaolo carded 78 and freshman Shawn Blandine 79.
“We all have things to work on and we’ll get through it,” Don Bosco coach TC Sweeney said. “This is a real good team and we’re just going to keep getting better.”
Pascack Hills’ 342 was considered a letdown. Spencer Chatfield shot 83 and Nicholas Curcio 84.
“We are disappointed in the outcome,” said Pascack Hills assistant Brooks Alexander, whose team is considered a state Group 2 title contender. “We did not play to our expectations or to our capabilities.”