What a difference a day makes for the San Benito girls golf
contingent. Twenty-four hours after finishing third in a four-team
Tri-County Athletic League North match in Gilroy, the Balers
stormed back to take Thursday’s five-team T-CAL North match at
Ridgemark Golf Club.
What a difference a day makes for the San Benito girls golf contingent. Twenty-four hours after finishing third in a four-team Tri-County Athletic League North match in Gilroy, the Balers stormed back to take Thursday’s five-team T-CAL North match at Ridgemark Golf Club.
The Balers, who were playing without No. 2 player Johni Kiesewetter, who was out due to illness, shot a team total of 208, edging Salinas by two strokes. No. 1 single Hillary Williams led the charge with a career-best 42 on the par-37 front nine of the Diablo Course. Baler head coach Mark Tinder got another 53 from Corryn Pacheco, then came two surprises. First-year players Rachelle Barrientos and Megan Smith shot 54 and 59, respectively, in their first varsity action. Junior Ashly Cullumber also carded a 59, while freshman Danielle Shelton shot a 66.
“I’m happy we won with three new players,” said Tinder. “And Hillary played an impressive, solid round.”
Williams had four pars and five bogeys, starting off at No. 5 and working her way back around. She had no three putts.
“I was driving well, hitting the ball steady,” said Williams, an honorable mention All-League player last season.
Watching the round was Hillary’s older sister, Jillian, a former First Team All-Monterey Bay League player at San Benito.
“I saw Jillian with Hillary and I thought to myself, ‘There’s that all-league family,” said Tinder. “If Hillary keeps playing the way she’s playing this year, she’ll make First Team All-League.”
Lindsay Sheen of Salinas was medalist with a 38. Live Oak’s Anne Trull shot a 52, while Gilroy’s Kristen Campos had a 51.
For the victory, the Balers were awarded four points, giving them a total of six for the season. The scoring is 4-3-2-1-0 with first place getting four points.
Live Oak golf coach Mike Rubino is also the league rep. Gauging early scores from the T-CAL South, Rubino dubbed Santa Catalina as the favorite to win league.
“They’re tough,” said Rubino of Santa Catalina. “Robert Louis Stevenson isn’t as strong as it normally is.”
The Balers at Corde Valle Country Club next Tuesday in the third of five T-CAL North matches.
