BRIDGEWATER – A new era in New Jersey girls golf has officially arrived. After years of building toward greatness, Moorestown has staked its claim as the state's top program, delivering a statement performance at the 25th NJSIAA Girls Golf Championship.
On a picture-perfect May afternoon at Raritan Valley Country Club, the Quakers didn't just repeat as Public B champions—they posted the best score of any team in the field. Their shoot-five, count-four total of 307 edged out Holy Angels by a single stroke, snapping the perennial powerhouse's pursuit of a fourth consecutive overall title.
"These girls can play—all of them," said longtime Moorestown coach Charlotte Heenan, now in her 20th season. "The Holy Angels girls can play, the Moorestown girls can play. It's just incredible to see."
The Quakers' depth was their greatest weapon, with four players carding rounds in the 70s. Junior Savannah Laverty led the charge with a stellar 74, good for fourth place individually among more than 100 competitors. Freshman Chloe Donohue and junior Lauren Patullo each posted 77, while senior Katherine Liu rounded out the scoring with a 79.
"It's amazing," Laverty said. "I'm just so grateful to be part of a great team, part of a great program, and to be building something special."
For Heenan, the victory carries extra meaning. She recalls the program's humble beginnings, when just one or two players would occasionally qualify as individuals while the team trophies headed north. "I felt like we needed to bring golf up in South Jersey," she said. "In the last 10 years, more and more schools are adding programs, and it's building that golf culture now."
Holy Angels, meanwhile, still had plenty to celebrate. The Angels repeated as Non-Public champions with a 308, finishing 21 strokes ahead of Pingry. Senior Olivia Lee and junior Eleanor Lim both shot 75, with Lee taking fifth overall and Lim sixth in a card playoff. Sophomore Ava Bang added a 78 and freshman Christine Park an 80.
"I would have liked to have won the overall, but we played well," said Holy Angels coach Patrick Dunne. "We won the private schools, so that's good."
In the Public A division, Millburn captured the large-school crown with a 336, finishing 31 strokes clear of runner-up Princeton. The Millers leaned on a formidable 1-2 punch: senior Ysabel Liu shot a 73 to finish as individual runner-up, while freshman Ava Zhong's 74 placed her third overall.
But the day's brightest individual star was Pingry junior Angela Liang, who cruised to the Tournament of Champions title with a brilliant 3-under-par 69. That score was four strokes better than Liu's runner-up 73, capping a dominant performance that left no doubt about who was the best player on the course.
As the sun set on Raritan Valley, the message was clear: New Jersey girls golf has a new top dog—but the competition is only getting better.