Four student golfers compete in BCLS Open and defeat last year’s champions
Four Moorestown High School golfers were sent to the BCLS Open on Tuesday, May 28, and came out on top, defeating Burlington Township, last year’s state champions, with 327 strokes.
Junior Justin DeVany, seniors Tommy Muccifori and Mike Dobbs and freshman Josh Pederson (son of former Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers quarterback Doug Pederson) represented the team at the tournament.
Pederson came out on top with a par 71 in the pouring rain, according to head coach Tim O’Reilly.
The freshman golfer won the Group III sectional individual title, finished second at the Group III state playoffs and second at the Carl Arena/ Al Rifkin Memorial Golf Tournament — one of the largest high school tournaments in the area.
“It was an honor and privilege to play in both tournaments,” Pederson said, adding he is going to miss playing for the Quakers.
Pederson is moving to Kanas City, Mo., but he ended his golf days at Moorestown on a high note.
“I had the best teammates anyone could ask for. I wish them luck in the future and will miss them,” he said.
O’Reilly said the team was able to take home titles in the Wildcat Invitational and the Burlington County Open along with the BCLS Open.
The team also finished second in the Carl Arena tournament and third in the Group III sectionals.
“The regular season was very good,” he said, adding the team ended the season 22–1 and was undefeated at home for the second consecutive year.
Muccifori had 89 stokes in the BCLS Open with an overall best for the season of 35 strokes on a nine-hole course.
Dobbs had 83 strokes at the BCLS Open and DeVany had 84 strokes. DeVany also won the individual title in the Wildcat Invitational.
This is Muccifori’s second and last year playing for MHS. He is moving on to Villanova next year and hopes to play club golf.
“It was just great to represent my team,” Muccifori said. “We had so much depth this year.”
O’Reilly is losing Pederson, Muccifori and Dobbs along with four other graduating seniors.
He said there might be more pressure on the team next year with nearly half of the team graduating.
“It’s the most talented team I have ever coached. Just a great group of guys,” O’Reilly said.
Spending six years as head coach for the boys’ team, O’Reilly lead Moorestown to a Group III state title championship in 2009.
“We lose a lot of talent, but we have some good players returning,” he said.
Muccifori said O’Reilly mentioned to the players the team has never won all of those tournaments in the same year.
“It’s great to sort of be able to stamp ourselves as the best team in Burlington County,” Muccifori said.
