DATE: APRIL 2, 2012
LOCATION: METROPOLIS COUNTRY CLUB
OPPONENT: SOLOMON SCHECTER
CURRENT RECORD: 0 – 1

The Varsity Golf Team narrowly lost its first match of the season to Solomon Scheter 292 to 282. Playing in the cold and wind, players from both teams struggled to shoot a good round. In spite of the challenging conditions, junior co-captain, Jack Bender, shot a 4 over 39. Jack struck the ball well but had some difficulties with the newly aerated greens at Metropolis. Junior Ryan Higgins made his debut by shooting a 65. The team next faces Pelham at Pelham Country Club on Tuesday, April 3rd.

The Sleepy Hollow Golf Team finished off its regular season with a win over Westlake HS at Elmwood Country Club on Thursday, May 12th. The team notched finished with a record of 10 – 8 and finished third in the League.

Three members of the team earned All League Honors – senior co-captain Jimmy Bender who finished with a differential average of 3.4, senior co-captain TJ Kent who finished with a differential average of 9.6, and sophomore Jack Bender who finished with a differential average of 5.1. After getting off to a rocky start, Jimmy finished the season strong posting scores of 40 or below on seven of the last eight matches. TJ Kent showed much more consistency shooting eight round in the mid to low 40s. Jack Bender had an up and down season in terms of scoring. However, he posted a much needed 40 on the final match of the season to make the Section One Golf Tournament.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the top 62 golfers in Section One, which includes most of Dutchess, and all of Putnam, Rockland, Westchester Counties, vied to represent the section at the State Championships. This year players with a differential average of 5.2 or better qualified to compete in the sectional tournament. On Monday, May 17th the first round of the Section One Golf Tournament was held at Sunningdale Country Club in Scarsdale, NY. Jimmy Bender and Jack Bender represented Sleepy Hollow.

Jimmy Bender got off to a tremendous start and was at one point 3-over through 12 holes. However, he was unable to sustain the good golf and finished with an 89 on the par 71 course playing from the back tees. Jack Bender who began the day on the back nine finished with an 87 to tie for 37th place. Neither Jimmy nor Jack finished high enough to move onto the second round of the Section One Tournament. Both had a great season and should be congratulated for their fine play, sportsmanship, and dedication. Jimmy Bender graduates at the end of this school year and will be attending Mississippi State in the fall. Jack Bender will be a junior next year and we look forward to more great golf in the future.

On a glorious May afternoon, the Sleepy Hollow Golf Team played its penultimate match against three league rivals. Playing at the world famous Sleepy Hollow Country Club, the Horsemen hosted Pleasantville, Rye Neck, and Valhalla. The top two from each team played from the back tees on the upper course. Sleepy Hollow’s own senior co-captain Jimmy Bender earned medalist honors by shooting a 2-over 37. Jimmy was able to bear down after starting off with a double-bogey on the first hole. Jimmy’s putting stroke was smooth and silky – practically sinking every putt inside of 10 feet. Sophomore Jack Bender who is trying to make Sectionals for the first time struggled a bit shooting a 45. Jack actually played a very nice round which was marred by a quadruple bogey. Senior co-captain TJ Kent and sophomore Jack Schnog shot 41 and 40 on the lower course, respectively. Junior Lucas Swenson and Kieran Brennan also played the lower course shooting 50 and 55, respectively. The Horsemen avenged an earlier loss to Rye Neck defeating them by 13 strokes. Sleepy Hollow also defeated Valhalla by a comfortable margin but lost to Pleasantville by a single stroke 212 to 213. The Horsemen are currently 8 and 6 and hope to notch their ninth win against Westlake HS at Elmwood Country Club on May 12th.

The Sleepy Hollow golf team narrowly lost to Ossining by three strokes, 246 to 243 on Friday, May 6th. Playing on the tough Hudson Hills Golf Course, Jimmy Bender continued his solid play by posting a 40. Sophomore Jack Bender returned to form by shooting a 42 in spite of a rocky start. Jack Schnog got off to a brilliant start but was unable to finish the round well shooting a 50. First year players, Lucas Swenson Kieran Brennan, continued to show improvement shooting 63 and 65, respectively. The golf team will face off in a quadmatch on Wednesday, May 11th at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

On Thursday, May 5th, the Sleepy Hollow golf team played a tri-match against non-league opponents, Hendrick Hudson and Haldane. On a gorgeous May afternoon, the three teams teed off at Hollow Brook Country Club. Jimmy Bender who enjoys playing at Hollow Brook shot a 38 in spite of two double bogeys. Senior TJ Kent continued his great play by shooting a 44. Sophomore Jack Schnog shot a 45 – his personal low round of the season. Jack Bender was a bit erratic and shot a 46. Sleepy Hollow lost to Hendrick Hudson 237 to 223 but defeated Haldane by over 70 strokes. Our next match is on Friday, May 6th vs Ossining at Hudson Hills.

The Sleepy Hollow Golf team lost to Rye Neck 274 to 259 at Metropolis County Club on Monday, May 2nd. Sleepy Hollow was without senior co-captain Jimmy Bender who was playing in the Westchester Amateur Tournament. In Jimmy’s absence, sophomore Jack Bender stepped up and shot a remarkable 37. If not for a careless double-bogey on the short 8th hole, Jack would have shot even par. TJ Kent also turned in a nice round of 43. Sophomore Jack Schnog struggled with a 59. The team is currently 5 – 4 and will face Rye Neck and Dobbs Ferry on Wednesday, May 4th.

On Wednesday, April 27th the Sleepy Hollow Varsity Golf team faced off against league powerhouse Briarcliff and Hastings. In spite of the warm, sunny conditions, the wind gusts made scoring tough on the Sleepy Hollow Country Club front nine. Sleepy Hollow narrowly lost to Briarcliff 228 to 223, but defeated Hastings 228 to 249. Senior co-captain, Jimmy Bender, shot the low round of the day by posting a 39. His monstrous drives impressed his competitors and even the opposing coaches. Young brother, sophomore Jack Bender, made a remarkable up-and-down on the final hole to shoot a 41 which was the second lowest round of the day. Senior co-captain TJ Kent chipped in from the greenside bunker on 9 to shoot a 48. Jack Schnog shot a 44 on the Sleepy Hollow Lower Course. Newcomers, Lucan Swenson and Kieran Brennan, continued to improve and shot 56 and 57, respectively. The golf team faces Rye Neck at Metropolis on Monday, May 2nd.

The Sleepy Hollow golf team got back to its winning ways and improved its record to 5 and 3 by defeating Dobbs Ferry at Ardsley Country Club on Monday, April 25th. The team was led by senior co-captain Jimmy Bender who shot an impressive 39 in spite of blowing two short putts. Younger brother, sophomore Jack Bender, also played well shooting a 41. Senior co-captain TJ Kent continued his good play by shooting a 46. Sophomore Jack Bender struggled with the flat stick but managed a 51. Juniors Lucas Swenson and Kieran Brennan shot 60 and 62, respectively, on the tough, hilly Ardsley back nine. Sleepy Hollow shot an aggregate of 237 while Dobbs Ferry shot a combined 261. The golf team next faces Hastings and Briarcliff at Sleepy Hollow Country Club on Wednesday, April 27th.

The Sleepy Hollow golf team lost its match against Briarcliff on Wednesday, April 14th which was played at Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Sophomore Jack Bender shot the second best round of the day with a 5-over 40 which included some tough par saving putts. Senior Jimmy Bender shot a 41 in spite of a triple-bogey. Senior TJ Kent backed up the 43 from the previous day to shoot a 44. Kieran Brennan, a junior who only started playing this year, shot a personal best, 54 on the Lower Course. Owen Leggio, playing in his second match of the season, bested his previous score by 5 strokes shooting a 57. The golf team will face Dobbs Ferry at Ardsley Country Club on April 25th.

On Wednesday, April 13th the Sleepy Hollow Varsity golf team split their matches with Hendrick Hudson and Ossining.  In spite of the soggy ground and the thick fog, senior co-captain Jimmy Bender led all players by shooting a 2 over 37.  The other senior co-captain TJ Kent rebounded nicely to shoot a 43.  Sophomore Jack Bender shot a 45.  Junior Kieran Brennan and freshman Charlie Mcevily each shot 57 on the Sleepy Hollow lower course.  Although Sleepy Hollow was missing two regular starters, they were able to eke out a win against Ossining by a single stroke 239 to 240.  The golf team next faces Valhalla and Briarcliff at Sleepy Hollow on Thursday, April 14th.