Princeton High Golf Off To 5-1 Start

Helped in large part by having the 2010 state champion on its team, Princeton High golf has started the season 5-1.

Fraser Graham is back for his senior season at Princeton High after winning last year's state championship.

"I think it surprised a lot of people that he won, but we certainly knew he was capable of doing it," Coach Sheryl Severance said.

Graham also won the Mercer County Tournament and the Garden Cup last year. So far this season, he added a second place win at the Blue Devil Invitational.

Graham is a consistent player. He has carded good rounds in Princeton's regular season matches.

Graham shot a round of 36 and senior Marshall Crane added a 40 in Princeton's 208-238 win over Lawrence in the season opener on Apr. 5.

Graham and junior Matt Lesnik both recorded rounds of 38 as Princeton defeated Nottingham,  205-293, on April 6.

Graham had a 38 and Crane a 40 in Princeton's 210-211 win over Notre Dame on April 7.

"That was a good one," Severance said about the Notre Dame match. "That wasn't one of our best scores. Fortunately, we still managed to win the match."

Graham shot a 37 and junior Ajay Vellore added a 39 in a 202-327 win over Trenton on April 13.

Graham shot a 38 and Lesnik a 39 in a 202-243 win over Robbinsville on April 14.

Princeton's lone loss was 198-207 to Hopewell on April 12. Graham, Crane and Vellore each had a round of 39 in that match.

"Fraser is very consistent and focused," Severance said. "He's one of those players that doesn't hear anything around him when he is playing.

"Fraser works really hard. He's also a great teammate. He helps out the other players a lot."

In the format it plays, Princeton uses six players and keeps the top five scores. Graham, Crane, Lesnik, Vellore, junior Will Schwaz and sophomore Alex Yang are Princeton's starting six.

Princeton does not play again until April 25.

"I could have scheduled some matches over the break, but a lot of the kids go away," Severance said. "I'd rather they go some place warm to play and work on their games."

That way Princeton will be sharp when all of the tournaments come around in May, including Graham's defense of his state championship.

"We'll probably win our division," Severance said. "We'll have to see how it goes at the Mercer County championships. Hopewell probably has the best team, but we have the best player."