In 1991 H.W. George Bush was U.S. President, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series, and the Chicago Bulls won their first of three straight NBA championships. As it turns out, 1991 was also the last time Gloucester County College fielded a golf team – that is until Monday afternoon when the program now known as Rowan College at Gloucester County (RCGC) hit the links with a club team at Deerwood Country Club in Westampton Township, Burlington County.
The Roadrunners, guided by veteran coach Jim Clarke, played an 18-hole scramble match that included Union County College, Ocean CC, County College of Morris, and Camden County. In a scramble match, groups of golfers each tee off at different holes to keep the competition moving.
Right now the RCGC program will enter competition as a club program, but the hope is to compete in a full NJCAA Division III schedule next spring. The team is now co-ed, but separate men's and women's teams could evolve if the interest grows.
The Roadrunners' last previous match was held in Spring 1991 at the former Woodbury Country Club.
Clarke's team will likely play five matches on a club level against NJCAA teams this season, including a home tilt against Camden County College at Pitman Golf Club and an away match against the Cougars at Valleybrook CC in Blackwood.
"It all depends on our numbers," said Clarke, a former GCIT coach who won a New Jersey state championship for the Cheetahs. "If the interest is there and our numbers improve, we can go with a full NJCAA schedule next year."
Right now the Runners have nine members on the squad, although only 5 to 6 can participate in a match at any given time. Team members include freshmen J.J. Pinto (West Deptford), Josh Hinkle (Glassboro/Clayton), Zack Buscher (Gateway Regional), Spencer Fallon (Gateway) and Matt Marinari (GCIT), all of whom competed in Tuesday's match, as well as sophomore Tori Nugent (Pennsville) and freshmen Anthony DiMarco (Gloucester Catholic) and Noah Zorzi (GCIT).
Clarke began recruiting around campus last summer by word of mouth and through an open house -- and received immediate interest from about 15 to 20 athletes. "We had to narrow it down to about 9 or 10 kids once we figured out who really had the time and ambition to stick with a full season of team competition and travel," Clarke noted.
For Zack Buscher, a former Gateway Regional High School golfer and basketball player, it was business as usual.
"We really didn't really mention the 27-year factor, but we all knew about it and we all wanted to be part of a team that changed this," said Buscher. "For me personally, this was like a regular spring schedule since I was used to playing golf in high school."
So how did Clarke's team perform in their first outing in 27 years? "We were competitive, very competitive," Clarke commented. "We have some talented young athletes here, and it's good to know we will have most of them back, and maybe with a few more teammates next year."
For now, it was just great to see the RCGC golf program back in business – especially after a 27-year absence!