GOLF - FINALLY FIRST: SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

    MILLSTONE -- The odds are pretty good that Ryan McCormick is going to win his fair share of tournaments before his high school career comes to an end. But as the Mater Dei sophomore walked up to the 18th tee at Monday's Shore Conference Tournament, he was just hoping he hadn't just let his first career victory slip through his grasp.
    "I kind of stumbled coming down the stretch," McCormick said about bogeying holes 16 and 17 and seeing his 1-under jump to 1-over. "After I bogeyed 17, I'm walking up to the 18th tee and I'm just thinking how frustrating it's been to always finish so close but never be able to get it done."
    "I talked to my dad (Mark McCormick, the PGA professional at Suburban Golf Club in Union) on Sunday and he just told me that I have to go out and get it done, no one is going to give it to me."
    With those words of wisdom ringing true in his head, McCormick finished his fabulous round with a birdie on the par-4 18th to finish with an even-par 72 on the south course at Charleston Springs Golf Club. His score was one shot better than Marlboro junior Keith Markowitz' 73 and gave the Seraphs star the Shore Conference Tournament individual championship.
    "To win for the first time and finally get the 'W' coming down the stretch," McCormick said with more than bit of relief in his voice. "It feels great."
    His final hole started with a perfect tee shot on the left side of the fairway that left him with a 60 foot approach shot to a pin located low on the green. His second shot was stellar, as he used his wedge to stick it even with the hole four feet out on the left. His birdie putt stayed true and dropped right in for the championship.
    "I've been working on my irons since counties because they were horrible there," said McCormick, who hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation. "I wasn't really taking full swings, I was just trying to cut it down a lot."
    Monday's round was the second straight at even par for McCormick in a major tournament. He finished second to Rumson-Fair Haven's Charlie Edler (80 at the SCT) with a 72 at the Monmouth County Tournament and has been a model of consistency all season.
    "The funny thing is they were two totally opposite rounds," McCormick said. "At the Monmouth County Tournament I was all over the place but I got up and down from everywhere. Here I hit a lot of greens and gave myself a lot of chances. I just didn't make a lot of them."
    He made enough of them, however, to win what should be the first of several major tournaments in his career.
    In finishing second, Markowitz had nearly an equally as consistent day. He played 1-under through his first nine holes with a birdie on No. 10 and pars the rest of the way through the back nine. He had four bogeys on the front nine, but birdied twice including a two on the par-3 ninth to close out his round.
    "Maybe I could have been a few strokes better but I hit the ball really well and I'm happy with myself," Markowitz said. "I wanted to get off to a good start and I also hit a lot of greens, so that was a big help. It feels good when you're consistent the whole day."
    His one-over 73 led the way for the Mustangs' team score of 317, which was good for second place.
    Finishing third was Christian Brothers Academy freshman Michael DeGennaro, whose two-over 74 paced the Colts' team score of 308 that netted them their third straight SCT team championship. DeGennaro shot 36 on the front and 38 on the back with a round that included three birdies. Senior Tom Gliozzo carded a 76, Kevin Clarke a 78, Brendan O'Brien an 80 and Brian Anderson an 81. The Colts suffered a one-stroke loss to Howell last week, but rebounded with solid scores all around to reassert themselves as the Shore Conference's best.
    "I knew we would come in and play pretty strong," Gliozzo said. "I think our team is more concerned with tournaments. Taking two losses (the Colts also lost to Marlboro earlier in the season) probably gets us more motivated to take everyone down in the tournaments."
    Even in their losses the Colts have shot extremely well. Their 155 in the loss to the Rebels is a score a lot of teams would kill for, it just happened to be that Howell shot a tad better. Earlier in the season CBA shot a 142 at Shadow Isle Golf Club, which was an amazing two-under par as a team. It's scores like that have made the Colts one of a favorites be holding the big trophy at the Tournament of Champions.
    "We want to win the big four," said Gliozzo referring to the Monmouth County Tournament, Shore Conference Tournament, Non-Public South A sectional and the TOC. "We definitely have the talent, so it's possible."
    They're already half way there.
   

Monmouth County Tournament
At Charleston Springs Golf Club, Millstone
Par 72, 6377 yards

Individual Top 10
1. Ryan McCormick (Mater Dei) 72
2. Keith Markowitz (Marlboro) 73
3. Michael DeGennaro (CBA) 74
4. Corey Carrick (Howell) 75
5t. Larry Vecchio (St. John Vianney) 76
5t. Tom Gliozzo (CBA) 76
5t. Eddie Carnes (Monmouth) 76
8t. Steven Kezel (Jackson Memorial 77
8t. Paul Marino (Red Bank Catholic) 77
8t. Max Venables (St. Rose) 77


Team Scoring
1. CBA 308
2. Marlboro 317
3. Howell 321
4t. Colts Neck 326
4t. Red Bank Catholic 326
6. Rumson-Fair Haven 327
7. Manalapan 334
8. Manasquan 335
9. Toms River North 338
10. Pinelands 345
11. Jackson Liberty 351
12. Monsignor Donovan 354
13. Southern 356
14. Central 361



E-mail: badders@digitalsports.com