Hollister – With its showdown against powerful Robert Louis Stevenson looming, the San Benito girls’ golf team set out for a confidence-boosting round at San Juan Oaks on Tuesday. And the Lady ‘Balers got just what they were looking for, placing first in a five-team, Tri-County Athletic League competition with their best showing to date.
With double points awarded in the multi-team round, San Benito also built up some valuable momentum in its quest to battle RLS and Santa Catalina for league supremacy.
San Benito used three rounds in the 40s to post a 185, four strokes better than runner-up Salinas, and also four strokes better than the team’s previous best combined score. No. 1 player Marissa Gutierrez and No. 2 Ashley Bushaw carded 42s to lead the ‘Balers, sharing medalist honors with Salinas’ Taylor Dominguez.
Katie O’Brien fired a 47 from her No. 3 slot, and Danielle Shelton shot a 54 to complete San Benito’s scoring.
Jordan Archer (56) and Nydia Martinez (58) also competed for the Lady ‘Balers.
Buchaw’s round was four strokes better than her previous best, set in the season-opening TCAL tournament last week at Ridgemark. O’Brien also topped the 51 she shot at Corral de Tierra on Monday.
Live Oak (250), Watsonville (256) and Alvarez (263) finished far behind the two team leaders.
The ‘Balers return to the course today when they host RLS at Ridgemark, a match San Benito head coach Chris Branon has pointed to as a good, early-season test for his players.
