Cranford Golfer Joe Manganiello

Tiger Woods has known the feeling. So have Ernie Els and Jack Nicklaus and justabout any weekend duffer who has ever attempted to master getting the littlewhite ball into the elusive hole. That agonizing time when your putting strokeleaves you and turns what could be a successful round into a disaster is oftenthe difference between winning a tournament or finishing second. JosephManganiello now knows that feeling, but like other successful golfers, he wasable to put a nightmarish hole behind him to finish second in the recentlycompleted NJ PGA Event at New Jersey National, in Basking Ridge. Manganiello a senior at Cranford High School finished only two strokes out offirst and knows that a single hole prevented him from tying for first andentering a playoff.

At the 15th hole, faced with a relatively simple five footdownhill putt for a birdie, he missed and compounded the pain by missing again,winding up with a bogey. Manganiello regained his poise to par out theremaining three holes and finish with a one over par 73 in the one-daytournament.Finishing second put him tenth in the junior player of the year standings with503.75 points. The top 16 players get automatic invitations to play in the NJPGA Junior Match Play Championships at Canoe Brook Country Club, which began onAug. 17th.. Manganiello has kept busy this summer working at the Hyatt HillsGolf Course and caddying at the Echo Lake Country Club.

“ In my spare time I try to get in as much golf as possible,” said Manganiello. “Working at Hyatt really helps because in my off-time I can hit as many ballsas I want. Being able to hit balls and practice more often is part of thereason that I've been playing well. “Manganiello got off to a shaky start in the tournament bogeying two of thefirst three holes before settling down to play the next eleven holes in twounder par. Then came the fateful fifteen and his recovery in the final threeholes. ”

I knew I was hitting the ball well and it was just a matter of timeuntil I started putting it together,” said Manganiello“Overall I hit the ball solid and I would have to say that I putted well also. I only had 28 putts all day. “ Manganiello started playing golf the summer before his freshman year. “My dadintroduced me to the game when I was 8 however it wasn't until high school whenI started to take the game seriously. During my sophomore year my golf coachat CHS, Mr. Bill Ray, told me about a teaching pro by the name of . Joe Bush. I called him later that year and since then I have taken my game to a new levelwith his help, “ said Manganiello. Manganiello considers his accuracy and putting to be his strengths. Herecently played one of his finest rounds shooting a 79 at the Westfield JuniorPGA Championship, and also getting his first hole in one at Hyatt Hills on July16th.

“This has really boosted my confidence, “ said Manganiello who considershis driver game to be his weakness. Manganiello has played varsity on the golf team since his freshman year andplans to major in marketing in collegeAfter high school he hopes to play collegiate golf, and try to play on amini-tour in the hopes of playing his way on to the PGA Tour. If that doesn’twork out, he wants to become a teaching pro or a head pro at a golf course. Manganiello led the Cougars to a 13-2 record last season losing only toWestfield and Millburn. “ The team is looking good this year and I think we canwin our group in the state tournament if we all play to our capability, “ saidManganiello.

As would be expected, Manganiello follows the professional game closely andmodels himself after two of the worlds’ top players.“My favorite pros would have to be Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. Both of themshow perseverance and determination on the course, and I feel that I play withthe same determination that they do.”