LeFante repeats as county champ
Junior cards
one-under 71
at Hominy Hill
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Colts Neck’s Eric LeFante shows off the form that allowed him to defend his Monmouth County Championship at Hominy Hill Country Club in Colts Neck on Thursday.

Defending championships is becoming old hat for Colts Neck’s Eric LeFante.

The junior became a two-time champion of the Monmouth County Tournament on Thursday when his 1-under-par 71 bested rival Pat Fillian (72) of St. Rose by one stroke at Hominy Hill Golf Course in Colts Neck.

LeFante had started the season off beating Fillian, a senior, in a playoff to win the Wall Invitational. Drawing on that experience helped him hold off the St. Rose golfer on Thursday.

"It gave me something to think about," he said. "I felt I was a little more focused this time."

As has been the case, LeFante and Fillian pushed each other to perform at the highest level (they were three shots clear of the field).

"We both played well and made some good shots," LeFante remarked. "If we had made some putts, it [the scores] could have been a little better."

LeFante and Fillian are a clash of styles. LeFante is the ultimate course manager who hits fairways and greens, while Fillian is more of a swashbuckler who likes to shoot for the flag. They do have something in common, however.

"We both want to win badly," LeFante pointed out.

When Fillian carded back-to-back bogeys on third and fourth holes, LeFante was able to grab a two-stroke lead that he never surrendered. Fillian would no go away and the lead swayed back and forth from on to two strokes. It took a six-foot putt for par on the 18th hole before LeFante could secure his latest win in this rivalry.

"On 18 I was a little concerned," he pointed out. "I had a 40 footer and needed two putts to win. I knew it would be a slow putt and I left it six-feet short.

"I felt pretty confident with the six-footer," he added. "It was dead straight. There was nothing to it if I didn’t push it."

LeFante hit his putt dead straight and when it dropped in the cup, he was now a two-time county champion.

"You always like to win," he said. "When I win a tournament it verifies that I’m one of the best around here and it gives me more confidence for the state tournament."

Colts Neck put up a spirited defense of its 2003 championship, finishing third (321) just two strokes behind new champion Wall (319). The Cougars were tied with Christian Brothers Academy, with the Colts getting second place by the fifth-man scoring tiebreaker.

Dave Cohen was the No. 2 scorer for the Cougars with a 79 that tied him with five others for 10th place. Eric Christenson tied for 19th at 83 and was Colts Neck’s third scorer.

It was a good day in general for Freehold District golfers with Freehold Township’s Greg Martz coming up with his finest tournament result. The senior posted a solid 75 to finish third. Manalapan’s Jason Miller carded a 76 to place fourth. Marlboro’s Brent Cohen tied for eighth with Ocean’s Craig Bonney at 78.

Manalapan’s Matt Quigley was among those in the five-golfer logjam for 19th place at 79. Teammate Matt Kronisch tied for 31st (85).

The Braves, were fourth (328) and qualified, along with Colts Neck, for the Shore Conference Championships on May 24 at Howell Park.

Other individuals qualifying for the SC were Marlboro’s Brandon Weiner and Howell’s Paul Bryck, who carded 85s and tied for 31st.

The NJSIAA sectionals are May 10 and 12, with the Tournament of Champions on May 17. LeFante was second in the Central/South Jersey sectional last year and fourth at the TOC. The junior’s steady game gives him a chance to win either or both.