St. Joseph and star Rory Asselta repeat as New Jersey boys golf champs

Asselta won individual honors with five birdies and two bogeys, one season after his 8-under 64 set the tournament record for lowest score relative to par.

St. Joseph sophomore Rory Asselta repeated as titlist at the New Jersey high school boys golf championship, aka the Tournament of Champions, in a one-hole playoff at Raritan Valley Country Club in Bridgewater on May 11, 2026.

On the playoff hole, the par-3 10th, Asselta hit his tee shot just onto the right fringe and two-putted from 25 feet for the par. Whitney hit his tee shot into the left bunker, under the lip, and couldn’t get his second shot onto the green.

Group 4

Hunterdon Central won Group 4 with 318 that was two strokes better than Montgomery. Sophomore Alex Croft led the way with 78, and junior Jaxson Hunt and senior David Berger each shot 79.

Whitney was titlist with his 69, courtesy of eight birdies, two bogeys, and a triple bogey. Montclair senior Vertti Hamalainen was runner-up with 72.

Group 3

Mainland captured Group 3 by six shots over Ridge. Senior Kenner Tannehill had 73, senior Daniel Herzchel 75, senior PJ Foley 76 and senior Patrick Hiltner 77.

Ridge senior Ethan Gallagher won individual honors with 70, and he aced the 180-yard 15th hole to take the early lead in the shotgun event that began at 11 a.m. Tannehill, with his 73, was runner-up via match of cards.

Group 2

Montville squeezed out Group 2 with a 303 that was one stroke better than Demarest. Freshman Charlie Kaufman shot 72 to be a double champion, with senior Brody Hammer carding 74, senior Dylan Kaufman 78 and senior Henry White 79.

Kaufman won the individual crown in a two-hole playoff with Demarest junior Ben Aronson. Playing the 10th hole twice, Kaufman won with a bogey and a par.

Group 1

Bernards squeezed out Group 1 with a 315 that was one shot better than Madison. Sophomore Brady Cassidy shot 74, sophomore DJ Allen 76 and senior Thomas Diemar 79.

Madison senior Teo Bengtsson claimed individual honors with a 73 that was one shot better than Cassidy’s 74.

Tournament of Champions

Team scores

Tournament of ChampionsTeam scores

1. St. Joseph 299

2. Mainland 301

3. Montville 303

4. Demarest 304

5. Delbarton 306

6. Ridge 307

7. Bernards 315

8. Madison 316

9. Hunterdon Central 318

10. Christian Brothers 318

11. Montgomery 320

12. Tenafly 321

13. Westfield 322

14. Southern 331

15. Ranney 331

16. Shawnee 333

17. Point Pleasant Borough 336

18. Holmdel 340

19. Indian Hills 350

20. Jefferson Township 351

Individuals

(Top 8 earn medals, ties broken via match of cards)

1. Rory Asselta, St. Joseph 69*

2. Tyler Whitney, Cherry Hill East 69

3. Ethan Gallagher, Ridge 70

4. Michael Asselta, St. Joseph 70

5. Ben Aronson, Demarest 72

6. Vertti Hamalainen, Montclair 72

7. Charlie Kaufman, Montville 72

8. Teo Bengtsson, Madison 73

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: St. Joseph and star Rory Asselta repeat as New Jersey boys golf champs