Mustangs struggle in MBL Finals, finish behind Salinas,
Hollister in league standings
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA – It was not the ending the Gilroy High boys golf team anticipated as the Mustangs struggled in Monday’s MBL Finals at San Juan Oaks GC and failed to capture the elusive league championship.
Gilroy was in a season-long battle with Salinas and late-surging Hollister for the MBL title – but a combined team score of 318 on the final round of play dropped the Mustangs to third place in the final league standings. Salinas shot a league-best 311 (tied with Monterey and Palma) to secure the league crown, while Hollister jumped up to second place with a combined score of 317 at San Juan Oaks.
“We didn’t play all that well. I have to give Salinas credit. They played well and deserve the title. As I said all season long, our league is one of the toughest in CCS,” head coach Eric Kuwada said. “Salinas played well and won. We didn’t play well. The course was not that difficult, but we didn’t get the job done.”
At the end of Monday’s play, the Mustangs came into the clubhouse with junior Chad Brownfield’s team-low 72; senior Joel Robinson’s 80; senior Kevin Noto’s 81; senior Brian Mikrut’s 85; junior Ryan Dinsmore’s 93; and senior Dave Stewart’s 96.
In the final league standings, Salinas finished atop with a 22.5; Hollister was second with a 28.5; Gilroy was third with a 28.5 (behind Hollister due to team score in MBL Finals); Monterey was fourth with a 34; and Palm a finished sixth with a 34.5.
“That race is over now. It’s water under the bridge,” said Kuwada, looking ahead to the CCS Playoffs. “We have the CCS now. We can still play well and go on to the CCS Championships and that would be some redemption to those guys that didn’t shoot well.
“Chad, Joel, and Kevin will go on as individuals if we don’t go as a team, if they shoot well,” Kuwada added. “We play Tuesday and need to be in the top 4 to advance to the CCS Finals. The guys know where they stand. For some of them (Noto, Mikrut, Dinsmore and Robinson), this is it. They are seniors and how they end the season is up to them.”
