Gutierrez overcomes tough start to lead SBHS; Cougars win
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San Martin – Santa Catalina sophomore Ariana Patterson had never played CordeValle before Tuesday during the Tri-County Athletic League competition.
It certainly didn’t affect her game, though, as she shot a season-best 35 to lead the Cougars to an easy triumph with a spectacular team total of 10-over-par 154.
“That’s incredible,” said San Benito coach Chris Branon, whose girls were a distant second, 58 shots behind.
It’s easy to understand how Santa Catalina finished third in the state last year in girls’ golf tournament. One of those holdovers is senior Eleana Collins, who is being courted by Division 1 schools. Collins shot 38.
But Patterson was the star Tuesday, shooting 1-under-par. And that included a missed 4-footer on No. 5 for her only bogey. She birdied the par-4 fourth hole, hitting a driver and 6-iron to set up a short putt. On the eighth hole, she used a 4-wood and sand wedge to set up another short birdie putt.
“Actually, I didn’t putt particularly well, but I was hitting greens and hitting it pretty close to the hole,” Patterson said.
Marissa Gutierrez paced the Haybalers with a 44, which was a good score considering she started double bogey-double bogey-double bogey.
“Throw out those three holes and I was happy with how I scored,” Gutierrez said.
San Benito has established itself as the third best team in TCAL behind Santa Catalina and Robert Louis Stevenson. While Branon was happy his team finished second Tuesday, he was hoping by now the scores would go lower as San Benito points toward the TCAL Championships Monday at Salinas Country Club. The ‘Balers were without No. 2 golfer Ashley Bushaw, who had another school commitment.
“The girls have been very consistent with their scores,” Branon said. “I’d like to see them be not so consistent and shoot lower. The girls will need to practice over the weekend to get ready for the tournament.”
Gilroy’s Rowena Tabilas heads into the tournament in a confident frame of mind. Playing CordeValle for just the second time, the senior shot 53 to pace the third-place Mustangs.
“My putting was good today,” Tabilas said. “I like the greens. They’re easy to follow. Other than a 9 on No. 3, I played well. It’s one of the tougher courses we play.”
