After having not defeated the Palma Chieftains in approximately
six years, the San Benito boys’ golf team has now done it twice in
a row. With San Benito senior Will Cross tying Palma’s Matt
Pinizzotto with a 2-over 38 on Thursday, the Balers took advantage
of playing on their home course at the Ridgemark Golf and Country
Club as they managed to edge Palma 206-208 at the third Tri-County
Athletic League Tournament of the season.
HOLLISTER
After having not defeated the Palma Chieftains in approximately six years, the San Benito boys’ golf team has now done it twice in a row.
With San Benito senior Will Cross tying Palma’s Matt Pinizzotto with a tournament-low 2-over 38 on Thursday, the Balers took advantage of playing on their home course at the Ridgemark Golf and Country Club and managed to edge Palma 206-208 in the third Tri-County Athletic League Tournament of the season.
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“Two in a row,” San Benito head coach Chris Branon said of the win, which follows the Balers’ 196-200 victory over the Chieftains in the second TCAL Tournament at the Salinas Golf and Country Club on March 7 — a win that ended roughly six years of San Benito placing behind the private Salinas school.
Thursday’s win now provides San Benito with sole possession of first place in the TCAL.
Competing on holes 1 and 11-18 of the Gabilan Course, otherwise known as the “Original Front 9” of the Old Course, scores tended to be slightly higher than normal on Thursday.
Branon said some of the golfers noted the greens, others pointed out the strong winds.
“But it’s a lengthier golf course than what they may be used to playing,” Branon added.
Two holes in particular can perhaps add a stroke or two to anyone’s score. No. 11 is a “tough” par 4, while No. 12 is a par-3, but is also 220 yards and into the wind.
“The course played like a par 38,” Branon said.
Which is exactly where the top two golfers finished. Cross for San Benito and Pinizzotto for Palma each carded a 38 to medal the round and lead their respective teams.
But the Balers managed to pick up a pair of strokes on the Chieftains among their remaining golfers.
Baler Ryan Han trailed Cross with a 3-over 39, while both Nathan Winn and Jacob De Leon each finished with a 42. Andrew Colton rounded out the scoring with a 45, while Jared Lantis also competed and scored a 49.
With San Benito and Palma leading the way, North Salinas finished a distant third with a 233, while Salinas followed in fourth with a 239. Gilroy (245), Alisal (247) and Everett Alvarez (248) rounded out the remaining member schools.
Although Thursday’s mark was one of San Benito’s higher scores of the season — albeit not by much — Branon pointed out the team’s depth and how the Balers still managed to stay rather consistent, even with two new golfers cracking the varsity lineup.
Colton and De Leon made their 2011 debuts for varsity on Thursday, and each scored for the team.
What the exact makeup will be next week remains to be seen, of course. San Benito will compete in the fourth TCAL Tournament next Thursday at Eagle Ridge Golf Club in Gilroy. Tee time is 3 p.m.
