Sizzling 65 gives Russo county golf title

It was a scintillating ending to a sensational season.

Washington Township senior Joe Russo set a tournament record with a 5-under-par 65 to take the individual title and lead the Minutemen to the team title in the Gloucester County golf tournament Thursday at Pitman Golf Course.

"I had played the course before, and I was confident," Russo said. "But I never expected to shoot a 65."

Russo led Washington Township to an overpowering performance. The Minutemen took first, second, third, and fourth, as fellow seniors Matt Graziano (70), Mark Graziano (74), and Mark Gormley (75) followed Russo on the leader board.

"For us to cap our senior year that way is just extraordinary," Russo said.

Minutemen coach Shane Snyder said Russo is "tournament-tested" and tends to play his best golf in the biggest events.

Thursday's victory was Russo's third tournament title of his senior season. He also won the Carl Arena and South Jersey Group 4.

Russo shot a 31 on the front nine Thursday, with five pars and four birdies. He made a pair of bogeys on the back nine but also birdied the 17th and eagled the par-5 15th.

Russo, who plans to continue his golf career at Wilmington University, said the 65 was his best round in high school golf. He shot a 65 at par-71 Laurel Creek in a non-high school event.

"To have my lowest high school round in my last tournament, you really couldn't ask for anything more than that," Russo said.

The Results

BOYS

Top teams: 1. Washington Township (Joe Russo, Matt Graziano, Mark Graziano, Mike Gormley), 284; 2. GCIT (Ryan Lloyd, Rich Eastlack, Christian Holmstrom, Collin Miller), 334.

Top individuals: 1. Joe Russo, Washington Township, 65; 2. Matt Graziano, Washington Township, 70; 3. Mark Graziano, Washington Township, 74; 4. Mark Gormley, Washington Township, 75; 5. Tyler Reedman, Williamstown, 76.

GIRLS

Top individuals: (No scores were released.) 1. Catherine Baitinger, GCIT; 2. Samantha Sutkowski, Clayton; 3. Sarah Hanson, Kingsway.