Mustangs finish third in league tourney, fourth overall;
Rodriguez awaits CCS individual berth
CARMEL – The Gilroy High golf line-up battled to the bitter end in Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League Finals at Quail Lodge GC in Carmel Valley. But the Mustangs’ third-place team score of 316 – one behind league champ Palma (315) and five back from tournament winner Salinas (311) – makes them a long shot for an at-large Central Coast Section bid.
“Granted we lost to Salinas by five strokes and to Palma (league champ) by a stroke, we were right there, just came up a little short,” head coach Eric Kuwada said. “I don’t believe that the CCS will take two at-large teams from the same league. So it looks like that we were a little short. Our league was very competitive and we were there all the time. The guys played well all season. We were competitive at any tournament we went to.”
Gilroy finished third in the league tournament ahead of four-place Hollister (322), fifth-place North Salinas (324) and sixth-place Live Oak (332). However in the final league standings, the Mustangs were fourth behind champion Palma, runner-up Hollister and third-place Salinas. The top two teams receive automatic berths, while Salinas is waiting for an at-large bid to come its way.
If Salinas qualifies as a team, Mustangs’ senior Ale Rodriguez – who shot a team-best 77 could earn an individual spot in the CCS Playoffs. Although still undetermined, Live Oak’s Eric Justeson, Anthony Valdez and Salinas’ Andrew Rodriguez finished in the top three and get automatic berths. But if Salinas qualifies as a team, then Gilroy’s Rodriguez will take his individual spot.
“The season was a grinder and the guys responded well. We needed to beat Salinas and looked like we could pull it off. But Salinas’ top three played well and shot a collective 15 over par compared to our 22 over for our top three,” Kuwada said. “It was a great season. For some of the seniors, it’s been a very competitive couple of years. I hope they come away with great memories of how close we actually were.”
Gilroy’s six-man line-up finished with Rodriguez’s 77; senior Chad Brownfield’s 78; junior Thomas Hoshida’s 80; junior Ryan Dinsmore’s 81; junior John Gurich’s 84; and senior Brian Calimpong’s 92.
“Being that Salinas took the tournament, it was very hard to see us as a team making it to CCS,” Kuwada said. “We had to place higher than Salinas and that didn’t happen. We played well, but they played better.”
GILROY GOLF FUNDRAISER: The Gilroy High golf team is still looking for players and sponsors for our its annual fundraising tournament on May 3 at Gilroy Golf Course. Proceeds benefit the GHS boys and girls golf programs. If you can help, contact Eric Kuwada or Jack Daley at 847-2424, or call Gilroy Golf Course to sign up to play.
Tournament Results:
1. Salinas 311
2. Palma 315
3. Gilroy 316
4. Hollister 322
5. North Salinas 324
6. Live Oak 332
TCAL All-league results: After 10 matches and 2 tournaments
1. Erick Justesen (Live Oak)
2. Anthony Vladez (N.Salinas)
T-3. Anthony Riso (Palma)
T-3. Danny Duncan (Palma)
5. Geordon Bean (N.Salinas)
6. Sam Campbell (Salinas)
Final League Standings
1. Palma 19
2. Hollister 21
3. Salinas 22
4. Gilroy 23.5
Gilroy Results:
1. Ale Rodriguez 77
2. Chad Brownfield 78
3. Thomas Hoshida 80
4. Ryan Dinsmore 81
5. John Gurich 84
6. Brian Calimpong 92
