Marlboro, Colts Neck vie for top spot in golf
Marlboro's Desero, Howell's Kelly looking for big seasons
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Having a Shore Conference (SC) championship to his credit has made Marlboro's Mike Desero a believer on the golf links.

"It made me a lot more confident," he said of last spring's SC victory.

"I used to be nervous. Now I know if I play my best, I belong up there."

As he looks toward the 2007 season, the senior, who will be playing for Methodist University in North Carolina next year, would like to fatten his scholastic résumé.

His biggest goal of the season is to make the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions, something he didn't do last year.

Like all serious golfers, Desero didn't just pick up his clubs again in March. He's been working on his game the entire year.

"I've gotten a lot more consistent," he remarked. "I'm practicing every day to get better. I still think I need to work on my game."

He has paid special attention to chipping and putting. That's where a golfer can save strokes.

Desero started his 2007 season with a solid third place at the Wall Invitational, held at the par-71 Shark River Golf Course in Neptune. The senior carded a 38-37-75 to finish just two strokes behind the winner, Andrew Hurley of St. Rose, who shot 38-35-73.

"I thought I played well," he said. "I missed a few putts on the final holes."

Marlboro had a solid team performance, taking third (332) behind Rumson-Fair Haven (325) and Wall (328).

Max Weiss tied for 22nd for Marlboro (42-41-83).

Colts Neck was eighth (343) led by John Edwards, last year's Freehold Regional District champion who tied for 13th (43-38-81).

Howell, led by Jimmy Mokrachek (42-42-84) who tied for 24th, was 11th (353).

Pat DiLeo led Manalapan to a 14th place (366) with his 43-39-82, which put him in a tie for 17th place.

The Wall Invitational was the first meeting between Marlboro and Colts Neck, who figure to fight it out for the A North public schools crown this spring. Stan Bryck's Mustangs were 13-3 last year and won the division title. He lost two starters from the team that added the Freehold Regional District title to its list of championships.

Besides Desero and Weiss, the Mustangs have Brett Markowitz, Keith Markowitz, Dan Nituitomo, Matt Penso and Marc Goldberg returning.

"We should be good," Desero said of the 2007 Mustangs.

Colts Neck was 18-4 in dual meets in 2006 and won the A Central title. Bryan Parks' Cougars move up to A North this spring with its lineup back.

The Cougars have Jason Schonholtz (who tied for 24th at the Wall Invitational), Chris Liguori (tied for 27 at Wall), Dave Denlinger and Nick Polvino back as well as the reigning District champion in Edwards.

Howell (12-8) has become a player on the golf links and can't be overlooked. In addition to Mokrachek, the Rebels have Mike White, Kyle Barrett, Trevor Rockhill and Tom Martino returning. Freshman Corey Carrick could crack the lineup.

Howell does have the returning Freehold Regional District girl's champion in Meghan Kelly, who will be playing in varsity matches this year.

Freehold Township will be looking to returners Nick Vescio and Austin Mongiello as the Pats look to approach last year's 9-4 season. Chris Hewitt, Joseph Caiola and Jake Levine round on the starting five.

DiLeo, who is only a sophomore, gives Manalapan a chance to improve on its 9-10 record. DiLeo played with a consistency that is often lacking in freshmen. His 17th-place tie at the Wall Invitational is proof that he will be a player at the championship meets this year.

Rob Perrone, Joe Zeoli and Jeremy Segermeister are the Braves' other returners.

The District will be fielding three girl's teams this year, which will be competing in the A North Division - Colts Neck, Freehold Borough and Marlboro.

At last year's girls District tournament, it was the Rebels' Kelly who won the championship, and Manalapan, which won the team title. Kelly, a junior, is looking forward to defending that championship and more.

Kelly, who is one of the best bowlers in the Shore, admits that she has caught the golf fever and has become obsessed with the game.

"My main focus is golf," she said. "I'm swinging every day."

Kelly is also busy recruiting, hoping to get enough girls for Howell to field a girls team next spring. For the time being, she wants to play as much golf as she can with Howell and try to make the NJSIAA girls championship tournament.

What is making Kelly a better golfer has less to do with her golf swing or putting stroke, and more to do with her mental approach to the game.

Like all golfers, she has learned to put an errant shot or bad break behind her.

"One bad shot, you can't let it ruin a round," she said. "It's a mind frame, you can't dwell on it."

There is one area where her bowling helps her out on the links, and that is putting.

"When I bowl I aim at a target line and I do the same thing when I'm putting," she said. "I line it up, set the target line and try to putt it there."

Freehold Borough's Sam Small, Marlboro's Catherine Kim and Manalapan's Samantha Bruer were the golfers who finished behind Kelly at last year's District tournament and will be back to challenge her.

Freehold Township's Amy Palmer should figure in the mix as well.

Important dates for the 2007 start with the Monmouth County Championship at Hominy Hill on April 19. The Shore Conference Tournament is May 7 at Sea Oaks.