Waldwick is in position to capture its first division golf title in more than a decade thanks to a trio of tight victories.
The Warriors sit atop NJIC Division 2 at the season’s midway point, following one-stroke victories over defending champ Saddle River Day and Midland Park and a three-shot win over Emerson/Park Ridge.
“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and not stress out over it,” said James Brady, one of six seniors on the veteran roster.
Brady lifted Waldwick (7-3 overall, 7-0 Division 2) to Friday’s 179-180 victory over Midland Park with an eagle on his final hole. On the par-5 ninth at Darlington Golf Course in Mahwah, he hit a 4-iron from 220 yards to within six inches of the cup.
“They’ve played in a lot of matches, and they understand the situations,” said longtime coach Paul Puglise. “As far as pulling out the close ones, I guess in some ways we’ve been a little lucky. But the experience does help a lot.”
“[Puglise] says, ‘Always play and act like your scores are going to count,’ so you can never give up,” Brady said.
Brady is among five seniors in a starting rotation that has posted a four-player, nine-hole average of 175 – a 27-shot improvement from when they were freshmen. The other 12th graders are Riley Toolen, the Warriors’ No. 1 player, Anthony Marchese, Kieran McLafferty and James Noyes. Junior Robert Krohn also is a starter.
