The end of the line came for the Hollister High boys golf team,
which actually played pretty well at Tuesday’s Central Coast
Section Regional I Tournament at Rancho Canada West in Carmel
Valley.
The end of the line came for the Hollister High boys golf team, which actually played pretty well at Tuesday’s Central Coast Section Regional I Tournament at Rancho Canada West in Carmel Valley.
The Balers’ total of 311 was just four strokes from tying for the fourth and final spot in the CCS Tournament, to be played on May 14, also at Rancho Canada West.
Bellarmine’s 297 led the 11-team pack, followed by Palo Alto and Robert Louis Stevenson at 301. Aptos and Burlingame, both at 307, were settling which team would be the fourth entrant via playoff.
The Balers were spurred on by senior Ian Hudson, who had a three-over-par 74. Hudson had five birdies for the round.
“It was a pretty good score considering how tight and narrow the fairways were,” said Hudson, who might play for Fresno State next year. “I was scrambling out there. It was a solid performance by our team, probably as solid as we’ve played all year. Everyone played well.”
John Dempsey was next with a 78, while Daniel Rivera carded a 79. Matt Lopez’ 80 rounded out the Baler four-card. Zach Zgragen shot an 83, while Chris Zubiaga had an 86.
Zgragen, a sophomore, is the only non-senior in the Balers’ top six.
“There were a lot of good seniors in this league, so next year the league will be wide open,” said Balers head coach Mitch Thomas. “Look at who was in front of us – mostly private schools with kids who play a lot of junior tournaments. That’s what I told Zach. He has to play a lot of junior tournaments so he can get tournament-tested.”
Had Zgragen shot 74 or better, he may have made it as an individual, according to Thomas, because Zgragen would have qualified for the Regionals as an individual with his 74 at last week’s league tourney. Meanwhile, Hudson, despite his 74 Tuesday, was denied advancing to CCS due to the fact he didn’t make the Regionals as a top individual.
“It’s a stupid rule,” said Thomas. “Just because a player had a bad day, he has to be punished.”
Thomas was proud of his club, which went down fighting.
“This wasn’t an easy course,” said Thomas of Rancho Canada West. “It was windy and cold. We had good scores. We had a successful season. We could have won league, but that’s golf.”
There are two at-large teams from the Tri-County Athletic League – Salinas and Gilroy. Gilroy, thanks to a 71 from Chad Brownfield and a 75 from Ale Rodriguez, shot a 311, tying the Mustangs with the Balers. Live Oak’s Erick Justesen carded a 71 and will advance to CCS, along with Brownfield and Rodriguez.
The second Regional will be played today with T-CAL champ Palma and Salinas participating.
