2024 Shore Conference boys golf early-season rankings. Who are the area's top 25 players?
The first snapshots of the Shore Conference boys golf season have come into focus. And if the initial glimpse the opening days of the 2024 spring campaign have provided are any indication, it’s going to be a very interesting journey through the NJSIAA state championship on May 13 at Raritan Valley Country Club.
At Wednesday’s Garden State Cup at Blue Heron Pines in Galloway Township, Christian Brothers Academy was the low area team, with a four-player total of 313 to place fourth overall against a deep field, as freshman Jack Stamberger finished tied for third overall at 1-over-par 73.
Defending champion Wall, which topped CBA at both the Shore Conference Tournament and Monmouth County Tournament a year ago, finished at 327, tied with Southern for 12th place, while Ranney was tied for 10th at 322.
With the Monmouth and Ocean County, and Shore Conference tournaments and state sectionals looming on the horizon, here are our early-season rankings for the top Shore Conference players:
1. Pat Scenna, Wall, Sr.
Quickly stamped himself as one of the players to beat in the state this spring by finishing 1-under-par in difficult conditions to win the season-opening Wall Invitational. The reigning Monmouth County champ, and Shore Conference runner-up, is the one to beat at the upcoming area championships.
More: 'Generational player': Shore high school boys golf star makes season-opening statement
2. John Welch, Ranney, Sr.
Closed last season with a solid performance at the NJSIAA state championship, and opened the current campaign with a top-10 finish at the Wall Invitational, before placing sixth at the Garden State Cup with a 74, second best among area competitors.
3. Jack O’Connor, CBA, Jr.
With top-7 finishes at both the Shore Conference and Monmouth County Tournaments last spring, to go with a win at the Central Non-Public sectional, O’Connor shot 33 in the Colts’ opening match and finished top-20 at the Garden State Cup with a 77.
4. Paul Reilly, Southern, Fr.
Established himself as an immediate contender, beginning his high school career with an impressive performance at the Wall Invitational, finishing sixth with a 77, and came back two days later to finish 14th at the Garden State Cup with a 77.
5. Jack Stamberger, CBA, Fr.
The next generation of talent appears to have arrived in Lincroft, with Stamberger making an immediate impact for the Colts. He opened his high school career by shooting a 34 in their first match, before coming back with a 73 at the Garden State Cup to tie for second.
6. Christian Klemanowicz, Freehold Twp., Sr.
Opened the season by finishing 12th at the Wall Invitational and shooting 36 a day later in the Patriots’ season-opening loss to CBA, after finishing third at the NJSIAA Central-South Group 4 sectional last season.
7. Daniel Cassidy, Middletown South. Sr.
A sixth-place finish at last year’s Shore Conference Tournament highlighted a strong junior campaign, as before opening this season by placing 16th at the Wall Invitational.
8. Will Ross, Rumson-Fair Haven, Jr.
Closed the 2023 season with a 12th place finish at the NJSIAA state championship, best among Shore competitors, picking up where he left off with a ninth-place finish at the Wall Invitational.
9. Patrick Sharpe, Holmdel, Sr.
The Monmouth University-bound senior was a runner-up finish at the Shore Conference Tournament last spring, coming in 19th at the Wall Invitational to open this season.
10. Brandan Tyhanic, Pinelands, Sr.
The reigning Ocean County champion had a good start to the season by placing 16th at the Wall Invitational, while looming as a favorite at Thursday’s Wildcat Invitational.
11. Jack Hennelly, Monmouth, Sr.
The Saint Peter’s commit placed fourth at last year’s Shore Conference Tournament, and opened the current season by finishing 22nd at the Wall Invitational.
12. Sam Landers, Ranney, So.
Burst on the scene as a freshman by placing seventh at the Monmouth County Tournament, eventually finishing fifth at the South Non-Public sectional. He opened the 2024 season by shooting 80 at the Garden State Cup as the Panthers earned a top-10 finish.
13. Jack Puma, CBA, Sr.
A key contributor for the Colts last season, including placing 30th at the NJSIAA state championship, he shot 79 at the Garden State Cup to help the Colts shoot 313.
14. Charlie Cormey, Wall, Sr.
An eighth-place finish at the Shore Conference Tournament highlighted his junior season, while shooting 78 at the Garden State Cup.
15. Boden Pepe, Wall, Sr.
A key contributor to the Crimson Knights’ championship squad from a year ago, Pepe, who finished second at the Central-South Group 2 sectional, is now being counted on as one of their top players.
16. Andrew Schrager, Middletown North, Sr.
Opened the season with the best performance of his career, shooting 75 to finish fifth at the Wall Invitational.
17. Evan Sorensen, CBA, Sr.
Had a great sophomore season, finishing fourth at the Shore Conference Tournament and seventh at the NJSIAA state championship.
18. Jack Nolan, Point Boro, Fr.
Part of a group of talented freshmen joining the fray this spring, Nolan and the Panthers look like contenders in Ocean County, with Nolan producing a top-20 finish at the Wall Invitational in his first high school tournament.
19. Ansel Patel, Freehold Twp., Sr.
Carded an 82 to finish 22nd at the Wall Invitational, after placing 11th at last year’s Monmouth County Tournament and 20th at the Shore Conference Tournament.
20. Ryan Quigley, Holmdel, So.
Opened the season with a ninth-place finish at the Wall Invitational, shooting 79, building on a rookie season in which he had a top-25 finish at the Shore Conference Tournament.
21. Jack Aiello, Colts Neck, Sr.
A third-place finish at last year’s NJSIAA Central-South Group 3 tournament was a highlight of his 2023 season, and has a stroke average of 37 in two season-opening wins for the Cougars.
22. Kevin Ostrander, Point Boro, So.
A sixth-place finish at the Ocean County Tournament highlighted his 2023 season, placing 23rd at the Shore Conference Tournament before opening this season with a 26th place finish at the Wall Invitational, as the Panthers finished ninth.
23. Alex Henbest, Southern, Sr.
Finished third at the Ocean County Tournament as a sophomore, and finished 20th there last year and 27th at the Shore Conference Tournament.
24. Dylan Mattessich, Manasquan, So.
Produced a top-30 finish at the Shore Conference Tournament as a freshman, and opened his second season with a top-10 finish at the Wall Invitational, as Big Blue placed fifth as a team.
25. Billy Laudien, Toms River East
The Raiders were hanging near the top of the leaderboard in in the day at the Wall Invitational before falling back, with Laudien pushing the team forward by placing 12th with a 79.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ boys high school golf: Top 25 player rankings
