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Erik Stevens and fellow North Hunterdon teammates sweep titles at the 2019 Skyland Conference Golf Tournament
May 3, 2019
HILLSBOROUGH TWP., NJ — North Hunterdon repeated in the team competition, and registered a championship sweep Wednesday afternoon at the 2019 Skyland Conference Golf Tournament.
Led by medalist Erik Stevens (even-par 72), the Lions posted a four-player score of 315 to win their second consecutive league title over a cool Royce Brook Golf Club layout .
North Hunterdon (10-2) edged perennial league power Hunterdon Central (320) by five strokes.
Pingry, the 2016 and 2017 champions, tied for third place at 322 with Watchung Hills.
Other key contributors for the Lions along with Stevens (sr.) were senior Dalton VanEsselstyn, North Hunterdon (75), and juniors Mike Kochanowski (83), and Lucas McClintock 85.
Head coach Kirk Hissner, 166-42 in 12 years at the helm of the Lions golf program, has big goals for his 2019 team.
“These four golfers are four strong golfers that should keep us in many matches this season,” Hissner said. “The team goal is to qualify for States this season as a team and then try to qualify for the (state) TOC.”
“Erik Stevens Is going to be playing golf at Monmouth next season,” Hissner said. “Dalton VanEsselstyn Is going to be playing golf at Wheaton next season.”
Stevens shot even-par 35-37–72 to earn a two-stroke victory over Moritz Weigold of Gill St. Bernards.
Stevens had six birdies, three on each nine.
“I played the par 5’s at 3-under-par, and reached all of them in two (shots) except for one, which I was five yards short of the green, “Stevens said. “I finished strong, birdieing 15,17 and 18. I hit 14 greens (in regulation), and struggled a little bit putting. They had some tough pins, so I couldn’t get too aggressive with some of them. I had 34 putts, but never felt uncomfortable over a putt. The best part of my game was definitely driver. Reaching three par 5’s in two (shots) really helped. The longest club I had in (to a green) was 4 iron. My wedges were also very good.”
Stevens is looking forward to attending Monmouth University next fall.
“I chose Monmouth for a couple of reasons,” Stevens said. “They have a great coach, Coach Shea, and a really tight-knit team. I loved the campus and facilities, and the location. It all seemed like a great fit for me, and I’m excited to get started there in the fall. I think I’ll fit in great. I’m undecided currently (on a major course of study), but I think I’m gonna study something business related, probably economics or finance.”
2019 Skyland Conference Golf Tournament scores
Royce Brook Golf Club (par 72)
Team Scores (4 players):
1. North Hunterdon 315; 2. Hunterdon Central 320; 3-T. Pingry 322, Watchung Hills 322; 5. Gill St. Bernards 324; 6. Immaculata 337; 7. Ridge 338; 8. Phillipsburg 342; 8. Montgomery 348, 9. Somerville 353; 10. Hillsborough 358; 11. Bridgewater 361; 12. Voorhees 376; 13. Warren Hills 403.
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
72 — Eric Stevens, North Hunterdon (even-par)
74 — Moritz Weigold, Gill St. Bernards
75 — Dalton VanEsselstyn, North Hunterdon; Michael McCrone, Hunterdon Central; Gavin Rau, Immaculata; Burke Pagano, Pingry
78 — Joseph Lostumbo, Hunterdon Central; Joey Russo, Somerville; Brad Pinho, Watchung Hills
79 — Graeme Hollingshead, Gill St. Bernards
80 — Hardy Mennen, Pingry; James Pruskowski, Ridge; Taj Piontkowski, Voorhees; Austin Liao, Watchung Hills
81 — Liam Larkin, Watchung Hills
82 — Luc Hacked, Hillsborough; Ryan Lattner, Phillipsburg; Michael Gallagher, Pingry
83 — Drew Kramer, Gill St. Bernards; Tanner Little, Hunterdon Central; Mike Kochanowski, North Hunterdon; Spencer Aydelotte, Phillipsburg; Eric Schubert, Ridge; Clement Shao, Watchung Hills
84 — Joseph Kepic, Hunterdon Central; Joe Oliveri, Immaculata; John Yanovitch, Montgomery; Charlie Garabo, Phillipsburg
85 — Tim Walker, Montgomery; Lucas McClintock, North Hunterdon; Ian Laron, Pingry
86 — Justin Tai, Bridgewater; Jimmy Sapp, Immaculata; Colin Albanese, Somerville; Dylan Ballback, Somerville
87 — Justin Strada, Ridge
88 — Carson Chiovarou, Bridgewater; Nick Policano, Gill St. Bernard; Andrzej Porter, Hillsborough; Ryan Bullett, Ridge; Matt Ma, Rutgers Prep
89 — Chris Lynch, Bernards; Ethan Levin, Bridgewater; Andy Xin, Montgomery
90 — Erik Hesthag, Hillsborough; Abdullah Vohra, Montgomery; Evan Stoker, Voorhees
91 — Corey Rosen, Rutgers Prep
92 — Jeremy Rys, Bernards; Pat Frauenheim, Immaculata; Jacob Baytoff, Voorhees
93 — Travis Gale, Phillipsburg; Andrew Mayer, Warren Hills
97 — Ben Riggs, South Hunterdon
98 — Neil Janjikhel, Bridgewater; Joe Cseh, Hillsborough
99 — Matt Barosi, Delaware Valley
100 — Spencer Klingel, Warren Hill
103 — Jaden Russo, Somerville
105 — Tanner Klingel, Warren Hills; Aiden Duncan, Warren Hills
106 — Matt Dolan, Bernards
114 — Tim Cashman, Voorhees
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