By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Rosey Li knows the tradition of excellent golfers that have passed through the Montgomery High girls golf program.
Before she graduates, Li would like to put herself on that same level that includes standouts Alice Chen and Allison Hering, who Li played with early in her Montgomery career.
“I started playing because Alice introduced me to it,” Li said of the former Cougar, who now plays at Furman University. “When I was in middle she was playing for the high school. She has been really supportive and texts and calls to see how the team is doing and how the season is going.
“Allison has reached out to us and had conversations with a couple of the girls. It’s really inspiring and supportive. She came to our last home match.”
Hering, who graduated from Montgomery last year, just completed her first year at the University of Tennessee.
Li had consistent success throughout this past season and capped it off by shooting a 76 to finish sixth at the Tournament of Champions last week at Forsgate Country Club in Jamesburg.
“I definitely feel like my scores have gotten lower each tournament,” Li said. “Our first tournament was the Red Devil and I played badly and shot 88. The next tournament was the (Somerset) county and I shot 76 and then at Sayreville I shot a 75. In the Skyland Conference I shot 72 and then at the sectionals I shot a 68.
“So I was continually getting lower. I feel like I really improved with my iron accuracy and putting.”
Li was the top Packet-area finisher at the TOC. She helped Montgomery to a fifth place finish as a team, one spot behind West Windsor-Plainsboro North, which was fourth.
Jacquelyn Cai of WW-P North shot a 79 to finish 13th, while Olivia Ling of WW-P South shot an 80. Montgomery freshman Madelin Jin finished with an 81.
“Rosey is a quiet player,” Montgomery coach Jen Jones said. “Her knowledge of the game is very high and the girls watch her. She has some a long way. She shot one of her best rounds at the sectional tournament. She has improved each time out and that is really as a coach what you want to see your players doing.”
Li has helped the Cougars remain one of the top programs in the state, despite losing two players to graduation that are now playing at Division 1 colleges.
“It has been awesome,” Li said. “We had a lot of really good freshmen who came in this year and really helped bring a good atmosphere to the team. I try to encourage all the team members and try to live up to the example that Alice and Allison have set for me.”
Like those players, Li has shown she is at her best in the biggest spots. Her 68 at the sectional tournament was her best performance of the season.
“I felt really good that day,” Li said. “I was also playing with good friend of mine Sayaka Carpenter from East Brunswick, and it was just really fun. I had not played with her in a while and we had a great time out on the course.
“That was one of the most exciting days of the whole season for our team. One of our top players, Maddie Jin, wasn’t there so we had a lot of doubts if we would make it. In the end, everyone shot their lowest score and we were all so excited. We exceeded our expectations.”
The4 Montgomery boys also played in the TOC, finishing ninth overall and third in Group IV.
“I am really proud of my guys,” Montgomery coach Andrew Carfley said. “I told them what they needed to do and they did it. Watchung Hills had such a good day that no one was touching them. I told my guys I was so proud of how they played.”
Andrew Kotler shot a 79 to finish sixth individually and lead the Cougars. Mehul Singh and Andrew Hong both shot 80, while Jake McCarthy shot an 86.
“We played well,” Carfley said. “We shot 79-80-80-86. In a lot of years that could win a Group IV title. With the great weather there were some low numbers on the board. The kid from Rumson shot a 66. We had a good run.
“It was a great learning experience for our guys. We only graduate one of the kids. It was a great season and a great learning experience for the kids.”
