Desero, Perrone top All-District Golf Team
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

John Edwards

The 2007 scholastic golf season turned into an outstanding one in the Freehold Regional High School District.

Area golfers left their marks individually throughout the Shore's golf links, as did teams like Marlboro and Colts Neck.

The season got started with a Marlboro victory at the Monmouth County Championships, where the Mustangs were one stroke better than Colts Neck (318-319). The Mustangs had the advantage of having the individual champion in Mike Desero.

Marlboro would again edge Colts Neck at the Shore Conference Tournament, with the Mustangs taking second behind Christian Brothers Academy.

In dual meets, the Mustangs and Cougars were fit to be tied, and they were. Each went 13-3 in the A North Division and ended up in a three-way tie for the title with CBA.

The Cougars got the final say when they captured the Freehold Regional District title. Manalapan's Rob Perrone was the individual champion.

Desero and Perrone topped the News Transcript's 2007 All-Freehold Regional District Boys Golf Team. Joining them on the team are Manalapan's Pat DiLeo, Colts Neck's Dave Denlinger and John Edwards, and Marlboro's Keith Markowitz.

More and more schools are fielding girls teams, and this year there was enough participation to field an All-District Team. The leader played with the boys - Meghan Kelly of Howell. The Rebels don't have a girls team, and the one chance she got to compete with her gender, the District Championships, she won.

Joining Kelly on the All-Freehold Regional Girls Golf Team are: Samantha Small, Freehold Borough, Arianna Hatchett and Nicole Danzi, Colts Neck, and Lindsay Silvestri, Marlboro.

Desero graduates with a rather impressive résumé - winner of both the Monmouth County and Shore Conference titles during his career. He began the 2007 campaign with a third place at the season-opening Wall Invitational. That set the stage for his convincing win at the county tournament. He carded a par-72 on the Hominy Hill Golf Course, winning by three strokes. Desero was ninth in the Shore Conference Tournament held at the Sea Oaks Golf Club in Ocean County and tied for seventh at the NJSIAA Central/South Jersey Group IV Tournament at the Lindwood Country Club.

Besides his tournament wins, Desero was instrumental in Marlboro winning the A North title the past two years.

DiLeo was Mr. Consistent. The sophomore was sixth at the county tournament and was the District's low scorer at the SC, finishing fifth. He was third, one stroke behind teammate Perrone, at the District championships, placed second at the Pritsch Tournament, shooting a 71 on his par-71 home course, Knob Hill Country Club, and tied for 13th at the state sectional. He is ready to be a championship contender in his remaining two years.

Perrone, like DiLeo, is an underclassman, setting the stage for Manalapan to challenge the Cougars and Mustangs next year. Perrone tied for seventh at the county and 26th in the SC. He had a solid state sectional, tying with teammate DiLeo for 13th before winning his first high school tournament.

Edwards, a senior, was the Cougars' top player in the tournaments. He tied with Desero for seventh place at the state sectional. He was in the logjam at seventh place at the county championships and 26th in the SC. He was fourth at the District tourney.

Denlinger was the Cougars' most consistent player during the team's dual meet season that culminated in the shared A North title. He did all right for himself in tournaments, too. He was third at the county tournament, fifth at the District and tied for 13th at the state sectional.

Denlinger, DiLeo and Desero, the Triple D's, played on the Monmouth County team that defeated Ocean County in the Jersey Shore Challenge Cup.

Markowitz had a steady year for the Mustangs, and as a sophomore, he is very much a part of the team's future. But he delivered this year. His 78 (tied for seventh) at the county tournament went a long way toward Marlboro's victory. He was seventh at the District championships.

Those earning honorable mention are: Andrew Schonholtz and Nick Polvino, Colts Neck; Ricky Morgan, Freehold Borough; Nick Vescio, Freehold Township; Kyle Barrett and Jimmy Mokracek, Howell; and Dan Nituitino and Max Weiss, Marlboro.

Kelly took full advantage of her one chance to compete against her peers, winning the Freehold Regional District title for a second straight year. The junior was one stroke better than Freehold Borough's Small.

Kelly will look for a District hat trick year, hopefully, as a member of the Howell girls team.

Small led all District golfers at the girls Shore Conference Tournament, played at Bamm Hollow Country Club. She carded a 51 there. She helped the Colonials tie Marlboro for sixth place, the best finish among the District teams there. She was third at the District championships.

Silvestri had the second low round of the day for the District girls at the SC, tying for 13th, and she was eighth at the District tourney.

Hatchett was the most consistent Cougar during the season. She finished just one stroke behind Kelly at the District tourney. Hatchett is a junior.

Danzi, a sophomore, helped the Cougars win the District championships by finishing fourth.

Those earning honorable mention for 2007 are: Pauline Spinelli and Deanna DeChirico, Colts Neck; Laura Porth and Emily Raines, Freehold Borough; Samantha Brewer, Manalapan; and Catherine Kim and Alexa Messenger, Marlboro.

2007 All-Freehold Regional District Golf Team

Boys