A bad day at the TCAL Finals erases the Gilroy boys’ golf team’s
hopes for an automatic bid to CCS, Miller qualifies as
individual
Carmel Valley – As the scorecards rolled in and were added up at the Tri-County Athletic League Golf Finals at Quail Lodge Golf Club Monday, it became more and more apparent that the Gilroy boys’ golf team would not qualify as a team for the Central Coast Section Championships.
“I don’t think we’re going to make it,” said Gilroy’s No. 2 golfer Chad Wilson after his round. “(San Benito) played really good today and we didn’t play our best.”
Earlier in the season, Gilroy and San Benito had been close to even, trading off the league’s third-place position behind Palma and Salinas. But Gilroy ended up in fifth place Monday with a total of 420 behind Live Oak (419), Salinas (397), San Benito (392) and Palma (380).
The Chieftains and the Haybalers, who finished out as the top two teams, received automatic bids to Tuesday’s CCS Championships. Based on the league standings from the rest of the golf season, which are coupled with the results from the finals to determine CCS qualification, Salinas would have been the other team qualifier after Palma, not San Benito. But the Cowboys have been banned by the CCS from playoffs for the 2006 spring season.
Over 18 holes, Palma’s Paul McChesney shot a 2-over 73 for medalist honors. San Benito’s Chris Shackleton (74) and Palma’s Cory Donnelly (75) rounded out the top three individual finishes.
Gilroy’s best score was turned in by junior Jordan Miller, who shot a 78 to qualify for the CCS meet as an individual.
“My putting was good,” said Miller, who shot the Mustangs’ top score as Gilroy’s No. 6 golfer. “Other than that, the only thing I could do was hit drives.”
Wilson had the next-best score of an 82. The Mustangs’ other top scorers were Stephen Freeth (85), Estevan Gonzalez (85) and Ryan Clark (90).
A few of Gilroy’s players struggled on the front nine of the par 71 Quail Ridge course and the Mustangs weren’t able to get the scoring depth they needed.
“We didn’t play very well,” said Gilroy head coach Kari Williams. “I think that the kids struggled with getting the ball into play off the tee and struggled with putting.”
Wilson echoed the coach’s assessment.
“I hate these greens. They’re inconsistent from what I’m used to, too soft and weren’t true with the break,” he said. “My putter was not on my side.”
Freeth, Gilroy’s No. 1 player, couldn’t recover from a bad front nine despite an improved back nine. The senior shot a 9 over 44 on the front.
“He’s a better golfer than that so it’s unfortunate that he struggled on the front nine,” Williams said. “I’m disappointed for the seniors. They had hopes of qualifying for CCS.”
The CCS Championships will be held Tuesday at Rancho Cañada, which is just down the road from Quail Ridge in Carmel Valley. Gilroy has a shot at getting an at-large bid to the tournament, but won’t find out until after this weekend’s seeding meeting.
