Rumson's Bedell Is Toc Champion; Bergen Catholic Sets Record
It has been a wonderful week for senior Reid Bedell of Rumson-Fair Haven high School. He capped it off by winning New Jersey’s biggest scholastic prize, the NJSIAA/MGA/NJSGA Tournament of Champions by shooting a record 6-under-par 66 at 6,612-yard Hopewell Valley Golf and Country Club on Monday, May 23.
Bergen Catholic won a third straight Tournament of Champions team title in record fashion, combining for a 284 to smash the former record of 295 set five years ago by Christian Brothers.
Last week, Bedell won the NJSIAA Central/South jersey Group 2 sectional championship and yesterday led his team to the Group 2 championship. Also last week, he shot a 69 and was runner-up to Vince Kwon in the NJSGA Amateur qualifying at Burlington C.C. He also led Rumson to the Group 2 team championship on Monday.
His 66 on Monday was a career-best by two shots and by eight shots from his best round ever in six tries at Hopewell Valley.
His round included a bogey on his first hole, and he then rang up an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole and five birdies.
It was his fourth win of the year including the sectional crown, the Wall Invitational and the Garden State Cup.
“I wanted to be aggressive. I knew I could make birdies on the par fives and I went four under on them today,” said Bedell, who will attend Lafayette. “My putting helped me get a lot of par saves. Winning the Tournament of Champions was beyond my wildest imagination. It surpassed all my expectations.”
Bergen Catholic’s winning team was comprised of Chris Lee (second overall, 69), Jim Criscione (fourth overall 70), George Cultraro (sixth, 72), and Dan Yam (10th 73).
Bergen Catholic was the first to win three consecutive titles since Madison in 1951. North Plainfield also did it in 1946-48.
“We had motivation, losing the county final to Don Bosco Prep last week,” said coach Jim Jacobsen (1,023-33-1). “We came here yesterday and mapped out our strategy. It worked perfectly.”
In the TOC team standings, Bergen Catholic shot 284, followed by Oratory Prep at 304 and CBA at 309.
Group champions were Watching Hills (Group 4), Old Tappan (Group 3), Rumson (Group 2), North Warren (Group 1), Oratory (Non-Public B) and Bergen Catholic (Non-Public A).
Tournament of Champion individuals: 1) Bedell, RFH, 66. 2) Lee, BC, 69. 3) Noah Wilpon, Watchung Hills 69. 4) Criscione BC 70. 5) Ryan Davis, Gov. Livingston 70. 6) Cultraro, BC, 72). 7) John Driscoll, Don Bosco 72. 8) John Felitto, Oratory 72. 9) Evan Quinn, Morristown 72. 10) Yam, BC 73. 11) Brian Quilty, Roxbury 73. 12) Sam Goldenring, Newark Academy 73.
