With a smooth and steady swing, Zofia Bath (‘24) launches the golf ball across the course. The ball soars through the air and lands in a perfect area on the green, the area nearest to the hole. On her next turn, she confidently putts the ball into the hole, securing herself another win.

     Bath is a four-year varsity girl’s golfer and this year’s team captain. She has been in the top six of the golf lineup since her sophomore year, which has qualified her to participate in nearly every match. In a match against Hightstown at the Cream Ridge Golf Course, she set her record low nine-hole round with a score of 40, meaning it only took 40 strokes for her to complete the round.

    In her sophomore year, she helped the team win first place at Lady Bombers, one of the top tournaments in the state. In her junior year, she and the team won the South Jersey Sectional Championships. This year, they competed at the NJSIAA South Jersey Sectional Championships and earned third place.   

     “Those awards, coming as a team accomplishing something together, just makes you want to do better,” said Bath.

     Bath has spent her entire career improving herself to help her team do better.

     “I like playing golf because it’s a game that you can never perfect, so you’re always trying to improve yourself,” said Bath. “It’s definitely been a long journey, but being a part of a team has pushed me to practice every day and improve rapidly.” 

     Bath has focused on improving her game throughout her career. She started playing golf in 8th grade because of her dad, and tried a nine hole golf course for the first time her freshman year.

     “At first, I didn’t really enjoy it. I was like, ‘I’m doing it for him,’ but once I joined the team and I was surrounded by other golfers, I started to enjoy it more and more,” said Bath. “And then I started working on a golf course as well, so being surrounded by so many golfers just made me grow passion for it even more.”

     As Bath spent more time with the sport and with her team, she began to shine as a golfer and as a teammate.

     “She is a leader and our captain this year, but she has always been a great teammate for all four years,” said Coach Michelle Walsh, head girl’s golf coach. “She’s always looking to help others, infuse humor into the difficult game of golf, and she wants to be friends with everyone. Zofia impacts our team culture so much.”      

     The golf team has impacted Bath’s journey tremendously. “The most important factor for my success would have to be my teammates because they’re the ones that pushed me since day one and helped me since day one,” said Bath. “The golf team has never been judgemental ever for the four years I’ve been there, and that has helped me a lot because I don’t strive off of negative feedback. I need positive reinforcement, so they’re the ones that have helped me the most.”

     In return for all their support, Bath has generously paid back that same positivity to all her teammates. 

    Sana Manchanda (‘25), one of her teammates and closest friends, said, “I joined the varsity team as the only freshman in my first year, which was scary since I wasn’t familiar with any of the upperclassmen. Zofia, a sophomore at the time, made me feel so comfortable on the team, even telling our coach her goal for the season was to become my best friend.”

     Being a mix of a friend and a leader has come naturally to Bath. “She is hard working, resilient, a strong leader and has an amazing way of connecting with people,” said Coach Walsh. “She has a sense of humor that keeps us laughing while also keeping her teammates motivated to work hard and improve.”

     While Bath does not plan on playing golf when she attends Rutgers University this fall, her love for the sport will always remain.

     “I will definitely miss my teammates and my coach, because they are the ones that pushed me to continue despite how unmotivated I got, or how frustrated I got,” said Bath. “I’m going miss that daily routine of practice and seeing them, but I’m sure I’ll stay in touch.”

     After four seasons of leaving every afternoon for the Princeton Country Club, Bath heads to graduation this month with the senior class.     

     “Her ongoing excitement, passion, and love for golf are forever in my memory,” said Coach Walsh.