NJ.com boys golfers to watch, 2021 – nj.com

Vincent Apostolico, Sparta, Sr.

The Hofstra-bound and co-captain Apostolico has been a starter since freshman year and has been instrumental in conference, tri-county and sectional championships over the last couple of years. Apostolico was selected as a first-team NJAC American All-Conference member in his sophomore season. In 2018, he shot a 78 in the T of C and in 2019, shot a 74 to finish in a tie for fourth in the NJAC Tournament.

Barnes Blake, Westfield, Jr.

Blake recently qualified for the Dustin Johnson World Junior Invitational at TPC Myrtle Beach on early March where he shot back-to-back 83s in his first attempt. He will provide Summers with a solid 1-2 punch in team competitions to start the year.

Cole Ekert, Chatham, Sr.

The Richmond-bound Ekert is currently the top-ranked boys player in New Jersey according to Junior Golf Scoreboard. Last summer, Ekert finished second in the Metropolitan Golf Association’s Carter Cup, the organization’s boys stroke play championship, and third in the MGA’s Boys Match Play Championship. He registered a ninth-place finish at the NJSGA Amateur Championship last August and won the NJPGA Junior Section Championship last June. In 2019, he led Chatham to county and sectional championships – earning individual medalist honors at both events – and was a First Team All-State Selection by the New Jersey PGA. That’s not all, Ekert also hosts an annual charity outing called the Juniors Fore Goryeb to benefit his local children’s hospital, an event that has raised more than $70,000 over the past three years.

Michael Foley, Sparta, Sr.

The Wagner-bound and co-captain Foley was an NJAC American All-Conference first team selection for 2018-2019. Foley tied for second with a 72 in the 2019 Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament, tied for fifth with an 82 in the North 1 & 2 Sectional and tied for third with an 82 in the 2019 T of C..

Joe Giamanco, Christian Brothers, Sr.

Giamanco has a 0.2 handicap with a low 70s average, has captured multiple junior tournament wins and top three finishes. Last summer, he shot the second lowest round in NJPGA junior tour history on the first day of the Mountain Classic, firing an 8-under 64, highlighted by two eagles. Giamanco played a part in CBA’s back-to-back state championships and undefeated records in 2018 and 2019.

Graeme Hollingshead, Gill St. Bernard’s, Sr.

The Gettysburg College-bound Hollingshead opened the 2019 season with the school’s first-ever hole-in-one in a match or tournament, when GSB defeated Belvidere, 153-340! He aced the par-3, 142-yard ninth hole at Harker’s Hollow Golf Club in Phillipsburg. Currently ranked No. 32 in the state by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Hollingshead has a gross scoring average of 78.45. He finished 10th out of 80 golfers in the 2019 Skyland Conference Championship with a 79 and finished fifth (77) in a field of 75 in the 2018 Somerset County Tournament.

Lance Hollingshead, Gill St. Bernard’s, Fr.

Hollingshead, the younger brother and teammate of Graeme, competed for the second time in the national finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition last Sunday at legendary Augusta National Golf Club. He finished third of 10 golfers in the Boys 14-15 year-old category. Currently, No. 849 nationally on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.

Garrett Kessler, West Essex, Sr.

The Rutgers-bound Kessler is the No. 2 ranked signee from New Jersey in the 2021 Class by Junior Golf Scoreboard. Kessler, who was a Third Team All-State selection by NJ.com in 2019, tied for first at the NJSIAA Group 2 during his sophomore season. He captured the 2019 K-Golf Classic and also carded three second-place finishes. As a freshman, he won the 2018 Essex County Tournament.

Ethan Lee, Christian Brothers, Jr.

Lee is currently ranked No. 540 nationally in the Global Junior Golf Rankings and will lead, along with senior Giamanco, as CBA looks to defend its 2019 state team title, shoots for its third straight and continuing its two-year undefeated streak.

Isaiah Marseille, Blair, So.

A Linden native, Marseille is among the top underclassmen golfers in the state. In addition to qualifying for the 2020 Dear NJ Junior Championship with an even-par 72, Isaiah had two top 10 finishes in AJGA events last summer, and most recently finished tied for 19th at the inaugural Mack Champ Invitational in Houston. Currently, Marseille is No. 487 nationally on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.

Chase Millar, Delbarton, Sr.

The Fairfield-bound Millar finished in a two-way tie for 10th place (80) in the 2019 Non-Public A individual tournament and finished in an eight-way tie for 27th (80) in the 2019 individual T of C.

Brandon Mudrick, Wallkill Valley, Sr.

The Felician University-bound Mudrick, who intends to major in accounting, was twice named to the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference All-Colonial Division Second Team before his junior season. The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder also just completed his fourth year on the school’s varsity ice hockey squad.

Tommy O’Neill, Bergen Catholic, Jr.

Lives right off of Hackensack Golf Club, O’Neill made second team All-County with an impressive scoring average of 39 his freshman year. His best win to date came in last year’s NJSGA Junior State Championship.

Arav Patel, East Brunswick, Sr.

The George Washington-bound Patel owns eight victories across his AJGA career and is rated among AJGA’s top 60 prospects in the class of 2021. Patel qualified for both the New Jersey Amateur and Met Open Championship last year and earned a win at the AJGA Golf Performance Center Junior Open. Patel finished runner-up at the Junior PGA Championship Sectional Qualifier and third at the AJGA Junior at Knollwood in 2019. He finished runner-up to CBA’s Jack Wall at the NJSIAA T of C final with a score of 68 as a freshman in 2018, but at the same time, captured the NJSIAA Group 4 Tournament individual crown. In 2019, Patel helped East Brunswick to second-place finishes at the Westfield Invitational and the Galloway National Challenge. Currently, No. 172 nationally on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.

Hunter Po, Bridgewater-Raritan, So.

Po, who plays on his home course at Raritan Valley CC, is currently ranked No. 63 in the Global Junior Golf Rankings and is No. 536 on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.

Shane Quinn, Morristown, Jr.

As a freshman, lost in a playoff at the NJAC championship and was a second team All-NJAC Conference selection. During his first year, he had a 3-plus scoring average.

Colin Summers, Westfield, Sr.

The Fairfield-bound and team captain Summers has shown leadership right from the get go, volunteering to give a presentation to our Varsity and JV teams on course management and strategy during the team’s virtual pre-season. Although last season did not happen due to the coronavirus shutdown, Summers made a great run in the MET Junior Championship at Rockaway River Country Club. Both Summers and Westfield’s 2020 captain Jason Lee both shot even par 72 on qualifying day to earn their way to the top 16 out of a field of over 70 players. Summers defeated his former teammate, 1 up, and then moved to the quarterfinals before eventually losing to eventual tourney champ Luke Sample, 2 and 1.

Jack Tarzy, Hun School, Jr.

Currently ranked No. 761 nationally in the Global Junior Golf Rankings and No. 905 on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings, Tarzy shot a second-place 41 in a season-opening 218-259 victory over Pennington at The Bedens Brook Club in Skillman on March 30.

Paul Ulanich, Freehold, Sr.

A two-time state qualifier and in his long appearance in the Tournament of Champions, he finished tied for seventh in 2019 as a sophomore. Ulanich is currently ranked No. 503 nationally in the Global Junior Golf Rankings.

Derek Weaver, Hackettstown, Jr.

Weaver had a stroke average of 37.11 for 20 matches, for a 1.6 over par average. His 18-hole tournament average was 77.8. He was a back-to-back first team All-Freedom selection in 2018 and 2019. Weaver also posted scores during the first week of May 2019 with a 34 (-2), 32 (-4), 33 (-1) and 30 (-6). In his freshman year in 2018, he was the first Hackettstown golfer in school history to qualify for the T of C. Currently, No. 675 nationally on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) rankings.

Liam White, Bergen Catholic, Jr.

Having only played his freshman year, Whit shot five times under par, highlighted by a 3-under-par 33 at North Jersey Country Club. He also shot a 2-under 34 at Ridgewood Country Club to help Bergen Catholic head coach Jim Jacobsen to his remarkable 1,100 victory. During his freshman stint, White shot in the 70s in every 18-hole tournament he played in.

Dylan Zhang, Blair, Jr.

The team captain spent some of the winter (while Blair was virtual) in California training for the season. While there, he qualified for the Callaway World Championship by winning the Future Champions National Coastal Tour Challenge with a 3-under-par (70-69) total. Zhang helped Blair capture the MAPL Championship his freshman year.

Others to Watch: Barnes Blake, Westfield, So.; Chris Dorey, Allentown, Sr.; Nathan Drogin, Newark Academy, Jr.; Derek Gutierrez, Cranford, So.; Austin Liao, Watchung Hills, Jr.; Andrew Lim, Montgomery, So.; Zachary Loninger, Northern Burlington, So.; Blake Oppenheim, Millburn, Sr.; Alex Yip, Morristown, Jr.

Note: Golfers did not have a 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Lou Monaco may be reached at lmonaco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @loumonaco. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.