The chase is on in the Tri-County Athletic League.
Gilroy – The chase is on in the Tri-County Athletic League.
It’s a chase for second place behind powerful Palma. The depth of the Chieftains was on display Wednesday during a TCAL tournament at Gilroy Golf Course.
With No. 1 golfer Greg Classen knocking three balls out of bounds and shooting 43, four other Palma golfers were under 40. The Chieftains posted a 190 team total that was easily the best on a mild, breezy day.
Gilroy was second at 212 with San Benito at 225 and Salinas at 233. Those three teams figure to fight it out for second and a spot in the Central Coast Section tournament.
San Benito was within two shots of Gilroy in the Nos. 1-3 players, but a dropoff in their 4-6 players put them closer to fourth-place Salinas. And yet, the five lowest shooters among the Mustangs, ‘Balers and Cowboys would have still been 11 strokes behind Palma.
“They’re definitely the team to beat,” Gilroy coach Eric Kuwada said of Palma. “They’re really benefiting from the Salinas junior program which is a great feeder program.”
The Chieftains’ Cory Donnelly was in the first group that finished and he posted the low score of the day, a sizzling 1-over-par 36. Teammates Sean Etow and Matt Ogden were one stroke back.
The only other golfer to break 40 was Mustang senior Jordan Miller, who fired a 3-over-par 38. The next best, however, were each from San Benito. Derell Aton shot 5-over-par 40, coming on the heels of the 80 he shot Monday at the Monterey Invitational at Salinas Golf and Country Club. Joey Amaral followed closely at 41 and Robby Sanchez was at 43. Josh Greenwood at 49 and Chad Strange at 52 were the other Haybalers whose scores were used in the team total.
The ‘Balers return to action Monday in the TCAL tournament at Corral de Tierra.
