Hanover Park's Quiogue captures MCT golf title
FLANDERS – Rianna Quiogue was comfortable at Flanders Valley on Thursday. The Hanover Park senior had a rough round on the blue course in a tri-match with Montville and Morris Catholic the day before. But maybe that was just preparation for the Morris County Tournament.
Quiogue shot a 44 to claim the title at the all-girls MCT. She had also played in the regular tournament, which was marked by periods of snow, a week earlier.
"It was nervewracking while I was playing," Quiogue said, as Montville senior Nicole Cheng — who was also part of both the regular-season match and the MCT — nodded sympathetically.
"I'm happy with how I played. ... I was putting better today and my tee shots were better. It was so different (on Wednesday)."
Jess Barry of Chatham finished second, and Kinnelon senior Francesca Bello third, with only three strokes dividing the top three golfers. Cheng was fourth with a 49. She and Quiogue had tied for fifth at the MCT last year, which was played on Flanders White.
Cheng was most pleased to have a better result than her younger sister, Emily Cheng, one of three freshmen in Montville's MCT foursome. The Mustangs, Chatham, Mendham and Randolph each sent four players to the MCT. Quiogue and Bello were each one of two.
Most of the 28 entrants are usually part of their schools' "boys" golf teams, though nearly all are regularly in the lineup for varsity matches.
"It's different, because I feel like it actually means something," said Bello, just 4-foot-11, who grew up playing in U.S. Kids Golf events. "It's a good way to end my senior year. I feel accomplished."
Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/
Rianna Quiogue (Park Reg.) 44, Jess Barry (Chatham) 45; Francesca Bello (Kinnelon) 46; Nicole Cheng (Montville) 49; Caroline Fishbach (Mendham) 51; Emily Cheng (Montville) 52; Julia Taormina (Pequannock) 52; Kathleen Won (Morris Tech) 52; Sarah Ethridge (Chatham) 52, Jennifer McCann (Chatham) 53; Emma Boyd (Mendham) 53; Sarah Chelo (Morristown) 57; Tori Weissman (Randolph) 57; Sarah Aquaviva (Pequannock) 58; Kelly Kim (Park Reg.) 58; Julia Purdy (Mendham) 58; Sophia Hwang (Montville) 58; Gianna Messina (Morris Tech) 58; Hannah Lifschin (Morris Tech) 59; Brielle Rozmus (Butler) 59; Emily Hegarty (Kinnelon) 59; Emily Tufraiello (Chatham) 60; Meredith LaBold (Randolph) 63; Samantha Weixel (Randolph) 63; Pooja Shetty (Montville) 65; Jackie Frankel (Mendham) 66; Christi Conroy (Morris Knolls) 66; Cara Solomon (Randolph) 67. Course: Flanders Valley Blue, par 36.