BY MICHAEL WOJTYCHIW                                                                     Oct 15, 2010

There are two things that set Sabrina Bonanno, Ridgewood’s top golfer, apart from the rest of her teammates and her opponents: she’s a freshman and a girl playing on the boys varsity team.

“In the first match, it was kind of intimidating,” said Bonanno, who is also a team captain. “I was afraid they went going to drive the ball farther, but then I got more confidence.”

Like her male counterparts, Bonanno shoots from the blue tees, which are usually used by males and have the longest distances on the course.

Most women play the red tees, which usually have the shortest yardage on the course.This only makes more impressive the facts that she has been a medalist or co-medalist four times and finished fifth in the Metro Suburban Conference meet.

This isn’t the first time that Ridgewood, which doesn’t field a girls squad, has had a girl on their team.The Rebels golf program was resurrected in 2006 and, according to coach Tom Parrillo, this is the team’s second female golfer in the past three years.

“That’s never happened before (having a freshman co-captain),”‘Parrillo said.”Her attitude and leadership is something I haven’t seen; it is what sets her apart from many others.”

The 14-year-old is used to setting herself apart from others, having played on many national tours and participating in the Kids Golf World Championships.

Last year, she played on the Plantations Junior Golf Tour and has also played in Amateur Junior Golf Association events. She has also made the trip to the World Championships five times, highlighted by an eighth-place finish at the age of 10.

“I think playing against all of these girls has only made me better. They are some of the best girls in the world,” Bonanno said. “I want to go to a big college and play there and hope to make it to the pros some day.”

She’s off to a good start, having shot 74s at both the St. Ignatius Regional and the Lyons Sectional – earning medalist honors in the former – to qualify for the Class AA state tournament, which begins Friday in downstate Forsyth.

“My goal is to win state all four years,” said Bonanno. “Oh yeah, I think I can do it, for sure.”