Middle’s Schulte wins at blustery county golf tournament; OCHS again takes team title

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

Middle Township junior P.J. Schulte overcame miserable conditions and 29 other golfers to win the individual title at the third annual Cape May County High School Golf Championships held Tuesday at Shore Gate Golf Club in Ocean View.

Ocean City won the team championship in the 18-hole event for the third straight year.

Schulte shot 38-42–80 to edge Ocean City’s Even Holmes by two strokes.

“It means a lot to win,” said Schulte, who had finished fourth as both a freshman and sophomore at the same tournament. “It’s something I’ve been hoping to do the last few years. I fell short before but it’s great to get it today. It would’ve have been even nicer to get it as a team but we can shoot for that next year.”

Cape May Tech’s Chris Porto was third at 85, Ocean City’s Josh Barnes placed fourth with an 86 and Middle Township’s Andrew Kapp placed fifth on a match of cards with an 87. Lower Cape May’s Joe Baker was sixth with the same score.

Ocean City took the next three places behind Kasey Clifford (88), Luke Neff (89) and T.J. Stanton (89). Lower Cape May’s Kolby Carter rounded out the top 10 at 92.

The golfers played in difficult conditions that featured high winds, cold temperatures and even a 20-minute rain shower.

“We really had to battle through the conditions,” Schulte said. “It was really windy out there and it was pretty cold.”

Despite those conditions, Schulte was able to finish with birdies on his final two holes.

“I started out playing not so great,” he said. “But when I was able to finish birdie-birdie to get to where I felt comfortable where I thought I could win the tournament.”

Ocean City finished at 345 to beat Middle (366), Lower (388), Cape May Tech (389), Wildwood (484) and Wildwood Catholic (484).