Morris County Tournament golf decided in one-hole playoff

TL;DR

Roger Rice won the Morris County Tournament golf title in a one-hole playoff against Brady Grippo on April 30. Chatham also secured the team plaque, narrowly defeating Madison by one stroke.

Key points

Roger Rice won the Morris County Tournament in a playoff
Chatham won the team title by one stroke over Madison
Rice's final hole bogey led to the playoff
Randolph finished third in the tournament
Morris Knolls won the girls golf title

ChathamMadisonRandolphDelbarton

MOUNT OLIVE — As Roger Rice put his putter back in his bag after winning the Morris County Tournament, he said to Brady Grippo, "You have no idea how bad my hands were shaking on that putt."

Rice, a Chatham junior, had sunk a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to hold off Grippo and win the MCT title on April 30 at Flanders Valley. Though Rice had bogeyed his final hole of regulation to force the playoff, he knew from the other Cougars' reactions that it was enough to win the team plaque.

Chatham edged Madison by one stroke, 308 to 309. Randolph finished third at 310, with two-time defending champion Delbarton fourth at 313.

Led by two-time champion Olivia Gaglione, Morris Knolls captured its third straight MCT girls golf title on April 23.

"It always comes down to one stroke. It always does," Rice said. "I've been fortunate enough to be in a situation like that before, and I learned from it. You get more and more used to it. It doesn't take away the value of it, but you stick to what you know."

For Grippo, a Kinnelon junior, it was his first time in a playoff. He thought he'd done enough to qualify by sinking a big par putt on his final hole.

But when it came time to tee off for the extra hole, Grippo was "terrified" to play in front of so many people. Nearly all the other golfers had gathered by the first tee to watch.

About half had also seen Rice's group finish up in regulation, following the foursome back to report scores and then on to the playoff. Both Rice and Grippo carded 1-under 71s.

Many of these teams will play at NJSIAA North 1 and 2 sectional tournaments on May 4 and 5, followed by the Tournament of Champions. They'll also meet again at the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament on May 20 back at Flanders.

"It's hard to be in the spotlight, that type of moment," Grippo said. "It's a new feeling, one I hope I'll experience again."