Girls golf sports solid players that could take team to section
playoffs
With 11 girls golf teams in the Tri County Athletic League this
year, San Benito High coach Chris Branon is hoping that more than
just the league champion gets recognized by the Central Coast
Section front office when it comes to earning a berth into the CCS
tournament at the end of the season.
He’s hoping that maybe two or even three teams from the TCAL
will earn enough points to make the prestigious season-ending
tournament
– and he’s hoping that his squad is one of those teams.
Girls golf sports solid players that could take team to section playoffs
With 11 girls golf teams in the Tri County Athletic League this year, San Benito High coach Chris Branon is hoping that more than just the league champion gets recognized by the Central Coast Section front office when it comes to earning a berth into the CCS tournament at the end of the season.
He’s hoping that maybe two or even three teams from the TCAL will earn enough points to make the prestigious season-ending tournament – and he’s hoping that his squad is one of those teams.
“Last year, we finished third in the league,” said Branon, who is an assistant professional at Ridgemark Golf Course. “This year, we’re going to try and take it one step further. Because of the ability of our players, the No. 1 goal will be to make CCS as a team.”
This year the league has more teams than in past years because Live Oak High School, which is now competing in the San Jose-based Blossom Valley Athletic League in every other sport, opted to stay in the TCAL because the BVAL doesn’t have a golf league.
Pacific Grove and Watsonville high schools also joined the TCAL this year, which makes the TCAL one of the biggest and most competitive leagues in the section.
This year, the Balers have 11 players on their roster, which includes three seniors, four juniors and four freshman athletes. In matches, only six players compete and the top four scores are kept to make the team total.
Leading the way on the links this year for San Benito High is junior Marissa Gutierrez, who typically shoots in the high 30s to the low 40s.
“She has an all-around decent game,” Branon said. “She has all of the shots that you need to make on the golf course.”
Another player who routinely shoots in the low 40s is senior four-year player Ashley Bushaw, who will play in the No. 2 slot in the Baler lineup. Her coach is most impressed with her competitive fire and ability to manage her game.
“She has always fought a fade in her game,” said Branon after watching Bushaw fire a 42 in a match at Santa Catalina High School on Tuesday. “This year she’s worked hard on straightening her ball flight, and she seems to have much more confidence now.”
Junior Jordan Archer is expected to fill the gap in the No. 3 position this year. Although she is of no relation to former masters winner and Gilroyan George Archer, she is one of the longest hitters on the Baler team.
“Her confidence is up tremendously this year,” Branon said. “She just needs to work on letting the bad shots go and not let them stay with her, but she has tremendous ability.”
This season Amanda Frey was expected to play in the No. 4 spot on the Baler team but after rupturing a tendon in her left thumb she’ll have to sit out the rest of the season. Unfortunately for Frey, this isn’t the first time she has gotten bad news. Last year Frey, who had surgery on her thumb last week, was expected to be a major contributor on the Baler team but was only able to compete in one match after hurting her back.
“She’s just had a lot of bad luck, but she’s only a junior and she can come back,” Branon said. “It’s too bad because she had really been putting in a lot of work this year too.”
Senior Danielle Shelton, who has been playing on the team for four years, is replacing Frey in the lineup.
“Danielle is a very intelligent player and she really knows what she’s doing on the golf course,” Branon said.
Playing in the No. 5 position this year is junior Katie O’Brien, who has one of the most fundamentally perfect swings of anyone on the Baler team.
“She’s got a very, very sound swing,” Branon said. “She’s also very strong for a small girl (5-foot-4). She really just needs to improve her confidence. All of these girls have potential but she has the kind of swing that you try to teach.”
In addition to playing golf, O’Brien has played basketball, softball and track during her first two years at San Benito High.
Rounding out the top six in the Baler lineup is senior Nydia Martinez, who has been playing with her teammates for three years. An upper-40s shooter, Martinez qualified for her first match last season and appears to be on the right track to stay in the top six in the lineup this year.
“She just needs more experience out there,” Branon said.
With a core group of seniors and juniors to help lead the team this season and four freshman who will be with the program for the next four years, San Benito High is expected to have a strong golf team for years to come.
The freshmen on this year’s squad are Jennifer Glosser, Katie Moeller, Alexis Sanchez and Carly DiDomenico.
“They’re all fighting to qualify for a spot every day,” Branon said.
