In one of its best showings of the year, the Hollister High boys
golf team placed third at the 18-team Monterey Bay Invitational
Tournament at Rancho Candada East in Carmel Valley Tuesday.
In one of its best showings of the year, the Hollister High boys golf team placed third at the 18-team Monterey Bay Invitational Tournament at Rancho Candada East in Carmel Valley Tuesday.
The Balers shot a team total of 389, three strokes behind Pacific Grove. Athletic power De La Salle of Concord shot a sizzling 366.
“De La Salle either wins or is at the top of all the tournaments they enter,” said Baler head coach Mitch Thomas. “They probably are the best team in Northern California or one of them. And Pacific Grove is playing great this year. They’re loaded. For us to shoot as well as we did was impressive.”
Ian Hudson sparkled with a 72, one over par. Hudson incurred a two-stroke penalty on No. 13 for hitting his ball out-of-bounds or he might have tied for medalist, which was 70. Chris Zubiaga had one of his best rounds of the season for the Balers with a 74.
“Zubiaga’s been a pleasant surprise lately,” said Thomas. “He’s really been coming on.”
Next was Danny Rivera, who had a 79, followed by John Dempsey’s 80, Matt Lopez’ 84 and Matt Vigilante’s 85. Sophomore Zach Zgragen, ranked 10th in scoring in the Tri-County Athletic League, had other matters to attend to and didn’t travel to CV.
Zgragen will be available when the T-CAL tournament is played next Tuesday at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. The winnner of the league tournament plays in the Central Coast Section Regional Tournament May 6 at Rancho Canada West. League runner-up receives the other automatic berth and plays on May 5, a Monday. The CCS Tournament is May 14, also at Rancho Canada East.
The Balers are tied with Palma for the league lead entering next Tuesday’s pressure-packed showdown.
“We’re just thinking about taking the league title,” said Thomas. “We’d like to play in the Tuesday regional, not Monday.”
Thomas is planning a practice round for his player at Quail Lodge before Tuesday.
