1957 and 1958 Golf Teams

1957 and 1958 Golf Teams

1957 Varsity and JV Golf Teams (left to right) Top row: Mr. Hood, Decker, Rose, Taylor, A. Hicks, Butterworth, Bonello, Rhodes, Walther, Clark, Mr. Watson. Bottom row: Galindo, Darkes, Goldfein, J. Marshall, Schleman, Sackman, J. Alfaro, R. Alfaro.

It’s the ultimate achievement in prep school golf when a school scores a “tourney sweep” at the Eastern Interscholastic Golf Championships by simultaneously winning both the individual first-place medal and the overall team championship. Peddie first captured that crown jewel when Billy Goldsmith and the 1940 varsity golf team swept the individual and team titles at the Easterns in Greenwich, CT – a feat that stood unequaled by any school for the next 17 years. But then Peddie did it again – twice! – with back-to-back sweeps at the Easterns by the 1957 and ’58 varsity golf teams.
 

It was the culmination of the extraordinary coaching career of Peddie Sports Hall of Fame Charter Member Phil Hood, whose 1950s teams racked up six New Jersey prep state championships on the way to that grandest of slams in 1957 and 1958. It was led by the inspired and inspiring play of captain Conrad Decker III ’58, who had survived polio at age 11 and overcame its lingering effects to become a schoolboy prodigy in both scholastic and high-level amateur golf competition. Winning four varsity letters in golf during his years at Peddie, Connie took top individual honors at both the States and the Easterns as a junior and as a senior. Rounding out the stellar 1957 and 1958 squads were Captain Dave Taylor ’57; Guy Butterworth ’57; Tom Walther ’57; Tony Hicks ’58 and Bill Rose ’58, who played on both teams; Gabe Galindo ’59; Larry Kash ’60; Dick Wilsey ’60; Bob Rose ’61 and team manager Steve Clark ’58.

By bringing Peddie back to the pinnacle of prep school golf and maintaining that perch for an unprecedented two years in a row, the 1957 and 1958 varsity golf teams wrote a new and unique chapter in the rich history of Old Gold and Blue golf. Today they join links legends Ash Clark ’31, Ed Clark ’35, Greg Lesher ’86, Barbara Paul ’90 and the 1940 and 1984 varsity golf teams with their induction into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame.

1958 Varsity and JV Golf Teams (left to right) Top row: Mr. Hood, Clark, Nash, J. Friedman, Goldfein, Mr. Watson. Bottom row: Wilsey, Kash, A. Hicks, Decker, Wm. Rose, R. Rose.

 

1958 Peddie Golf Team