OCC Golf Takes 3rd at GSAC Tourney
Toms River, NJ - Another day and another solid round of golf for the Ocean County College Golf Team. Led by 1st year player Rocco Scarabino's 5th place score of 79, the Vikings chipped in for a 4-man total of 344 at the Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) championship tournament, contested at Flanders Valley on April 30. The result tied the Vikings with Raritan Valley CC for 3rd of 6 teams, behind host County College of Morris (325) and 2023 and 2024 Region 19 champion RCSJ Gloucester, who shot a season-best 314.
Scarabino's top 5 showing earned the Lacey High School product a spot on the All-GSAC First Team. Teammates Jimmy Borowski and Josh Hybbeneth shot respective rounds of 85 and 88.
"It was a difficult day out there," remarked OCC Golf Head Coach Sean Fawcett. "Putting was tough. The swirling and gusting winds made club selection sometimes a guessing game. It was kind of an endurance test. All that being said, the guys competed very well. It wasn't the result we thought we'd have, but even if we had been at our best, Gloucester was just simply outstanding."
"I'm extremely happy for Rocco," continued Fawcett. "To make 1st Team All-GSAC in his 1st season was really well done. He's consistently played well all season, so I wasn't surprised. He's made great leaps in his game from fall practices up to today."
Next up for the Vikings is May 12-13's season-ending 2-day, 36-hole, Region 19 Championship at Ash Brook Golf Club.
"We shot 337 and placed 7 strokes behind 2nd place Morris (330) and 9 behind Gloucester (328) last week, so we're feeling good about our chances. We know we'll probably have to shoot in the 320s both days in order to earn a trip to the NJCAA Nationals, but we shot 321 on opening day to win our tournament at Seaview (3/31) and have been averaging in the 330s all season, so we know we can do it. We also know that we can score at Ash Brook, and that's key. We just have to carry that confidence into Regions and take things one swing at a time and make lots of pars with a few birdies here and there, but we can do that."
