Young Baler golfer finishes 66th in breezy Carmel Valley
course.
San Benito High sophomore Chis Shackleton gained some valuable experience in the Central Coast Section Regional at Rancho Cañada Golf Course in Carmel Valley on Wednesday.
Although his is not moving on to the Sectionals, he should be in good position next year to make a run at a league title, coach Mark Tinder said.
“He was the most improved golfer on the team,” Tinder said. “He’s doing a lot of junior tournaments over the summer, and he will be working on various things in his swing. I look forward to having Chris vie for that No.1 position next year.”
Since No. 1 golfer Zach Zgragen went out with an injury in the second half of the season, Shackleton has stepped up as the No. 1 Baler golfer.
Shackleton shot an 86 (43- 43) on the Rancho Cañada West Course par-71 during Wednesday’s Regionals and finished in 66th place.
With the breezy conditions, the cutoff mark for golfers to move on was moved up to 80. The golfers also played from the blue tees instead of the usual white ones.
Shackleton teed off at 8:08 a.m. with Korey Storer of Aragon and Kurt Dodge of Homestead from hole 10.
Shackleton’s previous time playing the course was in the Monterey Invitational Tournament when he shot a 72. But the conditions were slightly more favorable then, Tinder said. A couple lost balls near the river and a week putter also took their toll.
Tinder, who was a marshal on hole No. 2, watched as Shackleton triple bogeyed the No. 1 par-4 hole after hitting a good drive. But on No. 2, Shackleton chipped in for a par.
Already starting to prepare for next season, Shackleton made a trip to Ridgemark after the tournament ended to tune up his game.
