Girls’ golf teams from both high schools wrapped up the Mercer County Tournament (MCT) on April 25 with successful outings. The South girls are currently undefeated (5-0) in league play and placed second in the tournament as Grace Ro, a senior team captain, set a team record by posting a 38 on the front nine, finishing with an overall score of 86.
Head coach Michelle Walsh says Ro has played in a top spot since freshman year and has maintained her that spot on the team. She is joined by co-captains Alina Afinogenova, a senior, and Harleen Jaswal, a junior. In addition to Ro’s strong performances, Walsh says the two co-captains as well as junior Jenn Suh, who posted a 96 at the county tournament, lead a strong roster, top to bottom. “My top six scores only vary seven strokes — we’re very deep team, which is a big reason we are undefeated,” says Walsh.
The coach pointed out some breakout players — mostly fresh faces this season. “Sophomore Isabelle Tseng is by far the most improved player from last year, with an average of 46. Tseng recently shot a 39 on the front nine and held the team record for one week before Grace broke it. Our records don’t last long as our improvements are amazing every day,” she says.
Tseng, who played in just three matches last year, has worked her way to the number two ranking on the team. At the MCT Tseng shot a 90, South’s second-best score.
Walsh says freshman Rhea Khera has also been impressive, improving every time she goes out and “showing an attitude and work ethic that gets her selected to play in special tournaments.” Freshman Jess Jeon has also performed well, finishing with a 97 at the MCT.
Another surprise is sophomore Jessi Musumeci, who shot a 92 at the MCT, playing in only her second 18-hole tournament. Her first was the day prior, on April 24. Walsh says Musumeci posted her lowest scores in the past couple of weeks and is quickly working her way up the line-up.
Senior Karen Bortolus and juniors Prawallika Gangidi and Erin McElwee are also regularly competitors on the team. From numbers one to 12 there is only a difference of nine strokes in overall average. Walsh points out that freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors are all generating match scoring.
Walsh says South is getting ready for a showdown with South Brunswick, “who always has a strong showing,” and South plays North again in mid-May.
“Our eyes are set on continuing to perform well in our matches so that we can qualify for the state sectionals on May 14, an event we have qualified for in the last two years,” Walsh says.
She attributed the team’s success to the girls working on their own during the winter at the indoor Mercer County Golf Academy. “This is the most passionate, talented, and nice group of girls I have ever coached. Off the tee, the short game, putting, course management. They focus on it all, understand the concepts, go out of their way to learn more, and work like crazy to improve,” she says.
Meanwhile, High School North’s team is showing much promise as well. Head coach Tom Connolly says despite graduating six seniors last year, his team is currently 3-2 and already has scored one of the lowest scores in the history of the program with a 191 against East Brunswick. He credited solid leadership from two players and the consistency of practice among the team’s newcomers.
“Our two senior captains have done an excellent job, not only improving their game but helping the rest of the team. Christie Pasternick is a great example that hard work pays off, and her co-captain, Akosua Tuffuor, has been a great example to the rookies of what it takes to be a successful scholar-athlete,” Connolly says.
Pasternick is averaging six over par and came in eighth in the Mercer County Tournament. She shot a career-low of 38 against East Brunswick.
Connolly says Tuffuor consistently places among North’s top scorers. Like Pastertnick, she recorded her career-low against East Brunswick, shooting a 50.
Connolly mentioned two underclassmen who have been pleasant surprises this spring. Lynna Ye, a freshman, is averaging in the low 50s, finishing with a season low of 48 against South Brunswick. Conolly says sophomore Sanjana Uppaluri greatly improved since last year, as she shot a 101 at the MCT and recorded her career-low of 46 at South Brunswick.
Freshmen Aditi Sriram and Sowmya Kottapalli, sophomore Sam Mok, junior MaryBeth Carson, and seniors Biya and Zara Haq round out the team.
North has three matches remaining before the cutoff date for the state tournament — one against East Brunswick and two against Moorestown. Connolly notes that the team needs to win two out of the three to qualify for the state tournament, and the strides made by his roster this season gives him confidence they will make it.
