As flowers bloom, the weather warms up, and the after-school atmosphere bustles with end-of-year energy, school sports have launched into their seasons. The spring sports season is an exciting one for Whippany Park; every field is occupied with a team, practicing for success, and the morning announcements are filled with the accomplishments of our very own athletes. Park Girls Golf has kicked off a few successful outings so far, with upperclassmen returning to dominate the course and a number of new freshmen and sophomore members ready to learn the game.
Park vs. Pequannock
This year’s varsity roster consists of Kaitlin Bomengo, Jolie Casale, Ava Clarke, Caitlin Eng, Daniella Geary, Jada Lo, Samantha Tajar, Melissa Wilson, and Amelia Yin, along with Coach Sabatino. Kicking off the season, the team had its first victory over Pequannock on March 27th. The final score ended up being 235-241, with the top-placing golfers being Ava Clarke and Jolie Casale with their respective scores of 51 and 53. The two returning seniors, Daniella Geary and Melissa Wilson, had scores of 65 and 66, and junior Amelia Yin also had a score of 66. Freshman Caitlin Eng participated in her first game on the varsity Park team with a score of 68.
Park vs. Morris Tech
On April 1st, the team faced Morris Tech at Mt. Tabor Country Club for their second game of the season. The varsity golfers for this game included Jolie Casale, Ava Clarke, Caitlin Eng, Amelia Yin, Jada Lo, and Samantha Tajar. It was a tight game with competitive tension and close scores throughout the nine holes. Ultimately, Park and Morris Tech tied with a final score of 244-244. The top three placing players from Park were Jolie Casale with a score of 47, Ava Clarke coming in with a 56, and newcomer Caitlin Eng with a score of 69. This match was considered an all-square, which means that both teams had identical numbers for the final score.
Insider View to Practice
These successes could not happen without practices and specific workshops to target the areas players need to work on most. Practices vary from day to day, depending on the week’s schedule of matches. The team usually attends Anchor Golf Center in East Hanover one to two times a week, where Coach Sabatino analyzes each player’s swing and provides helpful tips to improve their long-distance shots. Other practices include workshops at Whippany Park; players get together to practice their short game, chipping, and accuracy in landing the ball on the green. Perhaps the most important practice type of all is at Pinch Brook Golf Course in Florham Park. This is where players gain experience on the nine-hole course and put together the skills they have worked on at the driving range or during workshops. The girls play in groups of four and work on their game pacing, controlling their shots, and working together in a group setting. No matter the practice schedule of the week, players show up dedicated to improving their golf game and preparing for upcoming matches.
