Bergen Catholic Wins Tournament Of Champions Again

Bergen Catholic won the 2015 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association/NJSGA team championship for the second year in a row at the Tournament of Champions on Monday, May 18, at the par-72, 6,612-yard Hopewell Valley Golf Club in Hopewell.

Bergen Catholic took the team title behind seniors Drake Ferriter (75) and Brandon Kim (76), sophomore Jimmy Criscione (77) and junior George Cultraro (77). Trailing Bergen Catholic (305) were Christian Brothers (313) and Oratory Prep (319).

“This is a great win for Bergen Catholic,” said veteran coach Jim Jacobsen, the winningest coach in state scholastic golf annals. In 33 seasons, Jacobsen has a record of 984-33-1 and has won seven state championships.

“This is the best bunch of kids I’ve ever coached, both on and off the golf course,” said Jacobsen.

This year, Bergen Catholic won the Blue Devil Tournament, the FDU North Jersey Invitational, the Arcola Invitational, and the Big North United Division Tournament. In addition, the school won the overall Big North Conference Championship, the Bergen County Championship Group 3-4 A, and the NJSIAA Non Public A North State Championship and Non Public A State Championship and the Tournament of Champs.

The Oradell school also took the league title in the United Division of the Big North. It placed third in the Galloway High School Challenge and fifth in the High Bridge Hills Invitational.