Freeth’s 77 leads 14-over division after first round of city
golf tournament
GILROY – At Tuesday’s opening round of the Gilroy City Junior Golf Tournament, the greens at Eagle Ridge Golf Course were up-and-down and the sand traps were unforgiving.
So perhaps it’s no surprise that the leader in the clubhouse is 15-year-old Stephen Freeth. The Eagle Ridge community member was playing on his home course, after all.
A Gilroy High golfer playing in his first city youth tournament, Freeth shot a first-round 77 to lead the field by 11 shots. GHS teammate Jordan Miller (88) stands in second.
“I’m very happy with that score,” said Freeth, whose best tally on the course is 75. “It just seemed like everything went well today … it’s been awhile since I could say that.”
The tournament, which is divided into three age groups, awards a champion in each division, as well as an overall winner among the 28 competitors.
In the 10-and-under group, which played seven holes, Bryant Park (37) leads by eight shots. The 12-and-unders are led by Sean O’Grady, who fired a first-day 50 to lead by four.
For the first time in a few years, the tournament expanded to three days and three courses. The field will compete at Gavilan GC today starting at 11 a.m. and at Gilroy GC for Thursday’s final round.
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool to get to go to different golf courses this week,” said 16-year-old Kristen Campos, the tourney’s only female competitor. “(Eagle Ridge) is definitely a nice one, so it’s awesome to get to play here.”
According to most of the golfers, though, Gavilan can’t get here fast enough.
“This is definitely the toughest of the three,” Miller said.
What makes the course so tough?
“Everything,” Miller fired back.
Listening to the golfers, though, it seemed obvious those treacherously large bunkers were Enemy No. 1.
“They’re huge,” said 14-year-old Matt Warnock of Morgan Hill. “And there’s so many of them.”
Even the pacesetter Freed acknowledged the challenge.
“Oh yeah, there’s a lot of them,” he said. “It’s definitely demanding.”
Results below
14-and-over (18 holes)
Stephen Freeth 77
Jordan Miller 88
Vinny DeLorenzo 90
Andrew Heinzen 107
Kristen Campos 109
Matt Warnock 110
Devin Rottler 120
Allan Hoshida 136
Justin Burgess 148
12-and-under (9 holes)
Sean O’Grady 50
Gene Park 54
Alex Bassi 60
Jacob Aldridge 68
Jeff Smith 68
Tyler Hartman 70
Andrew Lanier 71
Robbie Filice 72
10-and-under (7 holes)
Bryant Park 37
Bret Hartl 45
Steven Hebert 49
Mitchell Pasek 49
Winston Vankuela 53
James Benson 55
