(Photo by Stephen Goldsmith) MARSHALL PLAN: Princeton High boys’ golfer Marshall Crane gets ready to hit an iron shot. Junior star Crane has helped PHS produce a 4-0 start in dual matches this spring. The Little Tigers will look to keep on the winning track when they play at Hamilton on April 21 and at Steinert on April 27.

PHS Boys’ Golf Produces Solid Start; Aiming to Be Championship Contender

Bill Alden

In the spring of 2008, the Princeton High boys’ golf team made history as a triumvirate of senior stars led the program to its second straight Group III state championship.

While only current junior star Fraser Graham remains from that special team, its achievements are inspiring this year’s squad.

“They do talk about those teams,” said longtime PHS head coach Sheryl Severance. “Fraser was part of it and they aspire to that. They want to be good like that.”

While the Little Tigers might not be a state power yet, they have gotten off to a good start this spring, winning their first four dual matches as they look to improve on the 11-6 record posted in 2009.

“I am very happy,” said Severance, whose team moved to 4-0 with a 228-307 win over Trenton last Thursday.

“We started out with a win over Lawrence at Greenacres. Then we went to Miry Run to play against Nottingham; the course was not in great shape but we played well so I knew that win over Lawrence wasn’t a fluke. Then we played Notre Dame at Springdale and did well.”

Severance knows she can depend on the battle-tested Graham to play well.

“I think Fraser is just warming up,” said Severance of Graham, who carded a match-best 34 in the win over Notre Dame.

“He goes into golf right after hockey and it takes him time to get into things. He practices his short game and putting a lot. The rest of his game will just get better and better as the season goes on.”

Last Monday, Graham showed how good his game can be as he fired a 3-over 75 to win individual honors at the Garden State Cup at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Cologne. Graham’s heroics helped PHS finish 10th in the team standings out of 17 schools.

With his state championship experience, Graham is also providing leadership to go with his stellar play.

“He has done a good job of being a leader,” maintained Severance. “He is quiet but he has been stepping up and saying things.”

Junior Marshall Crane has been stepping up for PHS. “Marshall is a member at Springdale and he gets to play a lot,” said Severance.

“He loves to practice. He is showing some maturity in his game. Last year he made bad decisions at times. This year, he is making good decisions.”

Severance is seeing more mature play from seniors Kyle Walsh and Conor Finn. “Finn’s swing was choppy; he has worked on his fluidity,” added Severance. “He’s looked at videos and he is more fluid. He was super inconsistent last year and he has been much more consistent. Kyle has also been more consistent. In the past, he would come in with a great score one day and then would blow up the next day.”

The wild cards for the Little Tigers are senior Scott Schwarz and sophomore Matt Lesnick. “Schwarz is a strong kid; he can hit the ball a mile,” said Severance of Schwarz, a key defender this past fall for the state champion PHS boys’ soccer team.

“He can shoot 41 or 42 but he also can get out of control and be around 50. Matt Lesnick is my sophomore; all of a sudden he is a little taller. He is getting longer clubs this week and that should help him. He has the drive to succeed.”

Severance believes that her team could succeed in a big way this spring.

“Nobody is expecting us to be a contender,” said Severance, whose team has matches at Hamilton on April 21 and at Steinert on April 27. “Marshall is my No. 2 guy and I need Finn and Walsh to stay consistent. If they all come together, we could surprise some people.”

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