For Championship Golf Team, Season Falls Into Place

A mix of returning varsity golfers, strong freshmen and an exchange student who is an experienced junior golfer in India added up to the golf team's second consecutive North I & II Group I Sectional Championship.

Led by coaches Matt Millichap and Erik Lih, the growing program completed its season with a single loss, to Hanover Park.

"Our final record was 16-1 with our loss being by one stroke on a course most of our players had not played before," Millichap said. "All of this was after starting the season with only three players who had ever been in a varsity match for us. We won all our division matches to capture the NJAC Independence title, which coupled nicely with our North I & II Group I sectional title."

Seniors Andrew Wells and Matt Gilbert, junior exchange student Nakul Prakaash and freshman Alex Bollington were named to first team all-conference. Freshmen David Wells—Andrew's brother—and Carley Hopton were named to second team all conference.

Wells also was named by the New Jesey PGA Section to the 2012 New Jersey High School All-State Second Team.

Wells said it was his most successful year and the most consistent he has golfed.

"Everything came together," he said.

Wells, who is attending University of Virginia in the fall, where he might try to walk onto the university golf team, said high school flew by.

"It will be weird not seeing coach next spring," he said. "I can't believe it went by so quickly."

Stats

Andrew Wells (senior) – 3.29 over par per nine holes, 76 (tie third) in Morris County Tournament, 75 (first) in sectional, 76 (second for group I) in TOC, 80 in NJAC. First team all conference.

Matt Gilbert (senior) – 5.93 over par per nine holes, 82 in county tournament, 85 in sectional, 87 at TOC, 80 at NJAC. First team all conference.

Alex Bollington (freshman) – 5.64 over par per nine holes, 89 in county tournament, 82 in sectional, 88 at TOC. First team all conference.

Nakul Prakaash (junior) – 6.5 over par per nine holes, 84 in county tournament, 88 in sectional, 81 at NJAC. First team all conference.

David Wells (freshman) – 7.55 over par per nine holes, 87 in sectional, 90 at TOC, 80 at NJAC. Second team all conference.

Carley Hopton (freshman) – 7.82 over par per nine holes, 89 in girls’ state tournament (tied 26th). Second team all conference.

Other varsity letter winners - Brett Spelker (junior), Adam Graham (sophomore), Jack Mara (sophomore), Chris Farrell (freshman), Jon Miller (freshman)

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled the name of coach Erik Lih.