In five years of coaching the GHS girls’ golfers, Eric Kuwada
had never had a team shoot lower than 200 at the Gilroy Golf
Course.
In five years of coaching the GHS girls’ golfers, Eric Kuwada had never had a team shoot lower than 200 at the Gilroy Golf Course.
He does now.
And during a TCAL tournament at the course Tuesday, the Mustangs didn’t just break the two-century mark – they did it with 20 shots to spare.
Playing nine holes at par-35, Gilroy’s top four golfers posted a combined score of 180.
“I’m very impressed … in awe, actually,” Kuwada said. “Anything under 200 here is fabulous.”
Competing in a field of five teams, the Mustangs finished 22 shots of second-place San Benito High, which was paced by freshmen Marissa Gutierrez (47).
Led by overall medalist Lindsey Shean (36), Salinas finished third at 204.
Throughout the course, though, it was clearly the home team’s day.
Junior Kristen Campos posted a second-place 40, only one shot off her personal best at the Gilroy course. While she was visibly upset about her performance on the greens, Campos seemed pleased with everything else.
“The driver worked well, and I did pretty well with the irons and in the fairway,” she said. “Besides the putting, everything felt really good.”
As for teammate Carissa Filice, it seemed to be all working well.
The senior, who estimated she’s played the course around 70 times, has never shot as low as the 43 she posted Tuesday.
“I’m excited,” Filice said. “It was just a good day.”
Fellow senior Amy Kishimura followed right behind with a 44 and sophomore Annie Cockerill, competing in her first tournament, rounded out the top 4 with a 53.
“Three scores in the low 40s here?” Kuwada said. “I’m happy.”
Considering the team’s performance on this course just a week ago, the results became even more satisfying for Kuwada and assistant coach Barbara Wind.
The team lost a head-to-head matchup with Notre Dame, shooting a 206 and losing by five shots.
“The girls weren’t really happy with that … they wanted to prove it was kind of a fluke,” Wind said. “They knew they could play better.”
As it turns out, 26 shots better.
