When San Benito High head girls golf coach Mark Tinder gathers
his troops in for a team huddle, he feels dwarfed somewhat. That’s
because there are 21 girls out for golf this fall. Two years ago,
there were seven. Last season, there were 10.
Reading more into it, the Balers won the Monterey Bay League
title in 2001 and were second in the Tri-County Athletic League in
2002. Just think what Tinder can do with these many girls to choose
from?
When San Benito High head girls golf coach Mark Tinder gathers his troops in for a team huddle, he feels dwarfed somewhat. That’s because there are 21 girls out for golf this fall. Two years ago, there were seven. Last season, there were 10.
Reading more into it, the Balers won the Monterey Bay League title in 2001 and were second in the Tri-County Athletic League in 2002. Just think what Tinder can do with these many girls to choose from?
“I’d like to think we’re in it, along with Monte Vista Christian and Salinas,” said Tinder, who is in his second season as head coach after co-coaching with Bill Johnson in ’01. “It depends on what top players each team in the league lost.”
San Benito has its first T-CAL North match next Wednesday at Gilroy Golf Course. The Balers come right back the very next day at Ridgemark with the same teams – Alvarez, Gilroy, Live Oak and Salinas. Monte Vista Christian, Monterey, Notre Dame, Santa Catalina and Robert Louis Stevenson comprise the T-CAL South. The T-CAL tournament is set for Oct. 20, but the venue has yet to be determined.
The Balers return five of their top players from last season. Senior Hillary Williams is playing No. 1 singles.
“Hillary is experienced and smart,” said Tinder, an All-American golfer at Oral Roberts University. “She’s poised. She doesn’t let her emotions come into play.”
“We should be competitive in league,” said Williams, the team captain. “I’ve been taking some lessons the past two weeks and it has helped. We have some good young players will be good by the time they are done here.”
Junior Johni Kiesewetter is No. 2.
“We need Johni to be more consistent this year,” said Tinder. “We’re striving for more consistency.”
“My pitching wedge is my club, but I have to improve my putting,” said Kiesewetter, who can drive the ball 250 yards. “My short game is pretty good.”
Junior Ashly Cullumber is No. 3.
“Ashly is smooth,” said Tinder.
“I need to improve my putting,” said Cullumber, who swings a mean driver. “I hope we can win league.”
Junior Corryn Pacheco, a promising golfer who can certainly crack the top six, has been ill and won’t be able to practice until another week or so.
“I really miss golf,” said Pacheco. “I love it.”
While Tinder is giving everyone on the team a chance to qualify for the top six, two good bets are senior Jenny Maheu and freshman Danielle Shelton.
The bottom line is that this
team is young. The majority will be coming back for one to three more years.
“It’s great we have all these girls out for golf,” said Ridgemark Golf and Country Club assistant pro Chris Branon. “That we don’t lose the girls. That’s why I volunteered my services.”
Branon and fellow assistant pro Justin Polidari are volunteering their time giving tips to the Balers. Bill Johnson, former Baler head girls golf coach, is helping out when he can.
Tinder and the Balers also receive support from the Ridgemark Women’s Golf Club, keyed by Virginia Lockhart. Once a month, the Baler players are invited to play a round and have lunch with the ladies. The Ridgemark Men’s Golf Club also contributes its services.
“No golf team has as much support as this team does,” beamed Tinder. “We’re very thankful for all the help.”
Last year, the Balers were the only public school of the seven schools that qualified for the Central Coast Section playoffs.
“That’s because girls from private schools start younger and play all year round,” said Tinder. “Girls who play for us just play it during the season.”
If the numbers keep growing for girls golf at San Benito, that may change very soon.
