(Photo by Stephen Goldsmith) ON A ROLL: Princeton High golf star Fraser Graham displays his putting form. Last Wednesday, junior Graham won the individual title at the Mercer County Tournament, carding a 2-over 74 at Mountain View to edge Ryan Siegler of WW/P-N by two strokes. Graham’s heroics helped PHS place fourth in the team standings behind champion WW/P-N, Hun, and WW/P-S. Graham, who placed first at the Garden State Cup earlier this year, will go for a sectional title on May 17.

Extra Work on Golf Game Pays Off as PHS’s Graham Places 1st at MCT

Bill Alden

Having finished second in last year’s Mercer County Tournament, Princeton High junior golf star Fraser Graham was confident as he teed off last Wednesday at this year’s county competition at Mountain View.

“I played pretty well last year; I had a good day putting,” said Graham. “I definitely felt I was a contender; I am more ready to play this year.”

Graham’s confidence was boosted by his win earlier this spring in the Garden State Cup at Blue Heron Pines Golf Club in Cologne. “That was the first time I had won something like that,” said Graham, who shot 3-over 75 win that competition. “I have been working hard on my game; it was good to see it pay off.”

But in the early going Wednesday, Graham nearly played himself out of title contention.

“I struggled on the front nine, I was 3-over and I had to make a few putts to keep it there,” said Graham. “I had a terrible shot on No. 8. I clunked a 7 iron.”

Graham caught fire on the back nine, shooting 1-under to card a 74 as he ended up taking the individual crown by two strokes over Ryan Siegler of WW/P-N. Graham’s heroics helped PHS place fourth in the team standings behind champion WW/P-N, Hun, and WW/P-S.

Despite his superb play after the turn for home, Graham thought he may have blown his title shot when he ran into some trouble on the closing hole.

“I thought I was tied or 1 up going into the 18th,” recalled Graham. “I thought I needed par to be in good shape to win. I hit a poor iron shot and then had a good bunker shot. I left a putt on the lip of the cup and got a bogey. I thought I lost it or was going to a playoff.”

While Graham learned that he actually had a two-shot lead going into the 18th, he still had some nervous moments as he waited for the rest of the field to finish.

“I didn’t want to get too excited; I knew that someone may do something out of character,” said Graham.

Once Graham’s victory was confirmed, the nerves turned to smiles as he savored the honor of being the first PHS player to win the MCT individual crown.

“It was great; I got with the team and celebrated the win,” said Graham. “Coach [Sheryl] Severance was very happy.”

For the multi-talented Graham, the MCT victory validated his decision to put more time into his golf game.

“I would like to play golf in college; that is why I stopped playing travel hockey,” said Graham, who has remained on the PHS boys’ hockey team and was the squad’s leading scorer this past winter as it advanced to the MCT championship game.

“I had a talk with my dad last summer and between the two sports, we thought it would make sense to concentrate more on golf.”

In the meantime, Graham is going to concentrate on continuing his winning ways.

“I want to do as well as I can in the sectionals and hopefully make it to the Tournament of Champions,” said Graham, who competes in the sectionals on May 17. “If I get in that, I will have my sights set on being at the top.”

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