It’s a new league and a new scoring system, but Hollister High
boys golf coach Mitch Thomas has confidence his Balers can compete
for the Tri-County Athletic League title.
It’s a new league and a new scoring system, but Hollister High boys golf coach Mitch Thomas has confidence his Balers can compete for the Tri-County Athletic League title.
The new format calls for 10 3-team round robins and two league tournaments.
“I like our depth,” said Thomas. “The more league matches we have, the better off we’ll be.”
“We can win the league title and get in the top three of the Central Coast Section,” adds No. 1 player Ian Hudson, a scratch golfer. “We’re all good friends and get along well together.”
The Balers will get a good test this Thursday when they open up the T-CAL slate at Ridgemark GC with Salinas and Palma at 2:30 p.m. Winner is given a half point, second a point, and third a point and a half.
Thomas rates Salinas, led by one of the top golfers in the league, Chad Brownfield, as the Balers’ top competition for the team title, along with Gilroy.
Thomas likes his booming southpaw, Hudson.
“He’s long and smart,” said Thomas. “He has a lot of potential and ability. He has a good all-around game. He could work on his putting game. He can play at the next level.”
At No. 2 for the Balers after a minimum six rounds of qualifying, is sophomore Zach Zgragen.
“Zach needs some distance,” said Thomas. “He’s slight. But he plays steady and he’s smart. By the time he’s a senior, he could be an oustanding player.”
Senior Matt Vigilante qualified No. 3 for Thursday’s opener, while seniors John Dempsey and Matt Lopez tied at Nos. 4 and 5. Derek Lee just edged out Danny Rivera for the sixth spot in Thursday’s starting lineup. The top four scores count.
“All of those golfers are steady,” said Thomas.
Thomas kept 18 golfers on the roster, mainly for rebuilding purposes for when the abundance of seniors graduate.
“We’ve changed the grips on some of the freshmen,” said Thomas. “We’re working hard with the young guys. With the seniors we have, the young guys know they’ll get a log of JV matches and then it will be their turn.”
The Balers host the 36-man T-CAL tourney on March 20, while the final T-CAL tournament is scheduled for April 29 at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley.
Hollister golf participates in three invitationals – the Monterey Bay at Salinas Country Club on March 10, the Atwater Tournament in Stevenson on April 14 and the Monterey High Invitational on April 22.
“That’s where we stack up against the bigger golf schools from CCS,” said Thomas. “Then I’ll have an idea of how we’ll do in CCS.”
Hollister High boys golf schedule
Feb. 27 – Palma/Salinas at Ridgemark
March 4 – North Salinas/Live Oak at Salinas G&CC
March 10 – Monterey Bay Invitational at Salinas G&CC
March 11 – Palma/Live Oak at Salinas G&CC
March 20 – 36-man T-CAL tournament at Ridgemark
March 25 – Gilroy/Salinas at Ridgemark
March 27 – Salinas/Live Oak at Corral de Tierra GC
March 31 – Salinas/North Salinas at Corral de Tierra GC
April 2 – Gilroy/Palma at Eagle Ridge GC
April 8 – Gilroy/North Salinas at Ridgemark
April 10 – North Salinas/Palma at Corral de Tierra GC
April 14 – Atwater Tournament at Stevenson
April 22 – Monterey High Invitational
April 29 – T-CAL tournament at Quail Lodge
Matches start at 2:30 p.m.
