GSB Golf Ends Season with NJSIAA Non-Public Sectional and State Titles 

The GSB Golf Team (10-2) finished the 2023 season with not one, but two, milestone achievements under their belts.  

Not only did the team claim the NJSIAA Non-Public B North Sectional title for the first time in Gill St. Bernard’s school history, but they went on to earn the NJSIAA Non-Public B State Championship title as well—another first for the school.  

As a team, the Knights finished tied 4th overall in the state, only losing by 9 strokes to the tournament champion, Hunterdon Central. 

“I’m most proud of these athletes’ accomplishments as a team,” said Varsity Head Coach Keith James. “They played outstanding golf from the start of the season until the very end. They never let down while practicing, and they always worked as one unit towards one goal.” 

This list of accomplishments, while impressive, was only the beginning. Team Co-Captain Lance Hollingshead ’24 won back the Somerset County Individual Championship, a title he first secured as a freshman, and added a second onto his list of accolades: Non-Public B Individual State Champion. Hollingshead also tallied the lowest overall individual scoring average for the team with an average score of 37 strokes per golf match, and he finished the State Tournament tied for 8th overall. 

Co-Captain Evan Wortman ’23 was hot on Hollingshead’s tail, finishing second for individual honors at the State Tournament Non-Public B match, and concluding his season with a 39-stroke scoring average for match play. Wortman’s outstanding play at the end of the season led him to place tied 12th overall in the state, out of 128 golfers.  

“The captains, Lance and Evan, led by example,” Coach James said. “They encouraged each and every player to do their very best, and the results showed.” 

Senior Jackson Ketterson rounded out the top three members of the team. He ended the season with a match stroke average of 40, and for several of the matches played, he finished in the top spot—earning the honor of leading scorer. 

While the 2023 season may have come to an official close and the Knights uniform may have been put away for now, the team will continue to focus on hard work—before, during, and after the season. 

“Hard work is paramount to accomplishing goals,” Coach James explained. “As long as the team remembers to focus on the work required, they will continue to succeed both on and off the course. It will be very exciting to see where we go from here.” 

Congratulations, Knights, on an impressive season. Well done!