San Benito compiled 432 on Monday at Monterey invite
Hollister
It took the San Benito boys golf team until April of last season to break 200.
On Thursday against Sobrato, the same team in which San Benito broke 200 against last season, the Haybalers broke the measuring-stick score for the first time this season.
It’s certainly a good sign for the ‘Balers – which struggled to qualify anyone to last season’s Central Coast Section Championships – especially this early in their 2008 campaign.
But assistant coach Sal Felice, who along with Brian Silva and Bruce Vieira are all in their first year at the helm, believes the ‘Balers will not only break 200 again this season, but will be carding team scores under 190 and 185 as the season progresses.
“Our goal is to get to CCS as a team, and I don’t see any reason why that’s not attainable,” Felice said. “They’re all capable of shooting par. It’s just a matter of believing that.”
San Benito compiled a 194 to Sobrato’s 224 on the Old Back Nine of the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club last Thursday, and Joey Amaral medaled with a par 36. Nathan Winn and Marcus Synegal each shot a 38, Will Cross carded a 40 and Derell Aton shot a 42 to round out San Benito’s scorers. Justin Palmquist finished his round with a 45.
On Monday, San Benito compiled a 432 at the Monterey Bay Invitational at the Salinas Golf and Country Club, with Cross leading the way with a 6-over 78. Winn shot an 81, Amaral an 87, Synegal an 89 and Palmquist a 98.
Noting the team’s weakness in chipping and putting, Felice said it’s a good weakness to have because the short game can always be worked upon and fixed.
And with the team’s depth, where Felice believes any golfer, one through six, can medal with the rounds best score, it is perhaps just a matter of time before San Benito is battling Palma for the TCAL.
“It’s more of a matter of teaching them how to play. Our job (as a coaching staff) is to get them to learn not to take risks they shouldn’t take,” Felice said. “In time, I think you’ll see some pretty good numbers out of them.”
San Benito will open the TCAL on Thursday at the Gilroy Golf Club. Tee time is 2:30 p.m.
