The San Benito girls golf team was defeated 193-222 by visiting
Santa Catalina in a match played on the Ridgemark front nine
Tuesday.
The undefeated Santa Catalina retains its status as the No. 1
team in the Tri-County Athletic League. San Benito is currently in
fourth place behind second-place Gilroy and third-place Monte
Vista.
The San Benito girls golf team was defeated 193-222 by visiting Santa Catalina in a match played on the Ridgemark front nine Tuesday.
The undefeated Santa Catalina retains its status as the No. 1 team in the Tri-County Athletic League. San Benito is currently in fourth place behind second-place Gilroy and third-place Monte Vista.
“We have been in that position (on top of the standings) the last two years,” said Baler coach Mark Tinder. “Now the shoe’s on the other foot. Our girls did their best (against Santa Catalina), but the other team was just better.”
The Balers could finish in third place in the league finals because the points are doubled. Even with a third-place finish, the Balers would still not make the Central Coast Section playoffs as a team. The top team automatically gets in, and the second-place team could get in with an at-large berth.
“This year as a team, we have too much ground to make up,” Tinder said. “For some reason, we are just not maximizing our potential. We haven’t been as consistent as we need to be. The talent of the entire league has gone up, and we need to raise the bar too.”
Coach Tinder expects players like Hillary Williams, who received All-League honorable mention last year, and Ashly Cullumber to make the playoffs individually.
Williams led the Balers on Tuesday, shooting a 49. Jenny Maheu was second with a 53. Cullumber and Korryn Pacheco shot a 55. The other scorers were Johni Kiesewetter with a 56 and Megan Smith with a 57.
Because Williams and Maheu are the only seniors on the team this year, Tinder doesn’t see why the team can’t return to the playoffs like it has the last two years.
“Even though this year has been tough for us, we have 21 girls on the team which is double the previous year,” Tinder said. “Many will be playing next year. We have built a foundation.”
Rachelle Barrientos, a junior first-year player who has played half the matches this year listed as the seventh golfer, is one of those players Tinder expects to start next year.
“We’re going to be very competitive next year because we won’t have to worry about having enough. They will have to compete, and the spots will be based on the best performer.”
During Tinder’s first year of co-coaching with Bill Johnson, the team went undefeated with seven players. Last year, San Benito was the runner up behind Monte Vista.
The Balers final tournament is Thursday against RLS at Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach.
“The key is to be on the fairway and to be consistent with the shots,” Tinder said.
The league finals will be Oct. 27 at the Salinas Country Club.
