SALINAS
–– The San Benito golf team has a good chance to qualify for the
Central Coast Section championships after a second-place finish at
the league finals Monday at the Salinas Golf and County Club.
The team will find out Thursday night if it qualifies for an
at-large berth for the playoffs which begin next Tuesday at the
Rancho Ca
ñada East Course. If the team qualifies, it will be the third
year in a row that it has done that feat.
SALINAS –– The San Benito golf team has a good chance to qualify for the Central Coast Section championships after a second-place finish at the league finals Monday at the Salinas Golf and County Club.
The team will find out Thursday night if it qualifies for an at-large berth for the playoffs which begin next Tuesday at the Rancho Cañada East Course. If the team qualifies, it will be the third year in a row that it has done that feat.
“We were in the exact same position last year,” said Haybaler coach Mark Tinder. “There are only eight teams that make it, so we are in a very select group. The competition is pretty stiff at this level now.”
San Benito finished with a 398 behind Tri-County Athletic League winner Santa Catalina, which recorded a 372. Santa Catalina has a couple golfers with international experience.
San Benito received some help from the other teams. Coming into the meet, the Balers were in fourth, but were able to move up because the meet was worth double points. RLS and Notre Dame beat out Gilroy and Monte Vista to move the Balers up into the second spot.
The Balers have three golfers who qualified individually for the playoffs if the team doesn’t make it as a whole. Those three golfers are Corryn Pacheco, Johni Kiesewetter and Hillary Williams.
Pacheco finished with a surprising 95 to lead the Balers.
“She was committed to playing well today,” Tinder said. “She was real focused on what she needed to do and went out there and did it. Corryn didn’t have any holes that had high scores. She plays with a lot of heart and is a very good team player. She was consistent, and was able to think her way around the golf course.”
Kiesewetter was the next finisher with a 99.
“I think she wanted to prove herself to her teammates because she has not performed to her expectations,” Tinder said. “She was determined to show what she could do and finally put a round together.”
Williams, the Balers No. 1 golfer, dropped a couple strokes right at the end, and just managed to qualify with her score of 100. On the 17th hole, she had a 9 and on the 18th scored a 7.
“I am very happy with the team’s performance and believe we have established a foundation to continue an excellent program,” Tinder said. “It just shows when you practice and you set your sights on something to accomplish that you can actually do it.”
Team
1. Santa Catalina 372
2. San Benito 398
3. Notre Dame 401
4. RLS 404
5. Gilroy 406
6. Monte Vista 414
7. Salinas 424
8. Alvarez 471
9. Live Oak 486
San Benito Individual
1. Corryn Pacheco 95*
2. Johni Kiesewetter 99*
3. Hillary Williams 100*
4. Ashly Cullumber 104
5. Megan Smith 107
6. Jenny Maheu 109
Final League Standings
1. Santa Catalina 48
2. San Benito 34
3. Gilroy 33
4. Monte Vista 31
5. Notre Dame 29
6. RLS 28
7. Salinas 20
8. Alvarez 9
9. Live Oak 8
10.Monterey 0
League History
2003
1st Santa Catalina,
2nd San Benito
2002
1st Monte Vista
2nd San Benito
2001
1st San Benito
2nd RLS
Championship Medalist
Corrinna Rees 78
