With three Tri-County Athletic League meets to go, the objective at hand was as cut and dry as it gets for the Christopher High boys golf team.
If if were to win its division, three victories in those meets were of the utmost importance.
The Cougars won all three.
On Monday, the only obstacle between the Cougars and said Valley Division title was placing ahead of second-place North Salinas at the TCAL finals on the Vikings’ home Course – Salinas Golf and Country Club.
Again, CHS rose to the occasion.
Playing 18 holes (up from the usual nine at league meets), the Cougars posted a team score of 445, placing second behind Valley tournament winner (sixth overall) Alvarez but ahead of the Vikings by seven strokes for the Valley crown.
“I told the players what they had to do. North Salinas plays very well at that course, but we did what we needed to do,” CHS head coach Michael Hoshida said. “I’m proud of these guys.”
The Cougars will go head-to-head with San Benito, which finished second, one stroke behind Palma in the Mountain Division finals, today at Laguna Seca. The winner of that dual will receive an automatic bid into the Central Coast Section playoffs.
“We prepared really well,” Hoshida said. “The kids practice very well and I think they are used to the matches now. There isn’t as much nervousness now.”
Peter Hilkene had the team’s low round with an 81. Jaeshawn Hoenck shot an 83, Tyson Hill carded an 89, both RJ Montez and Steven Lerma had 96s and Yafet Bitwoded had a 104. The top five scores made up the final team tally.
• Gilroy High also participated. Alex Siao fired a 75 and could earn an individual CCS berth. Tommy Cox shot an 82 for the Mustangs.
All-League boys golf
Mountain: 1st Team All- League Ryan Han (H) MVP , Joey Russo (M), Jay Burlison (P), Aaron Smith (H), Ryan Slater (MVC), Marc Moreno (P)
2nd Team All- League Jack Burlison (P), Jack Tardieu (P), Grant Headley (M), Nick Calciano (MVC), Travis Winn (P), Greg Moreno (H)
Sportsmanship Awards John German (H), Antonio Jennings (M), Ryan Slater (MVC), Marc Moreno (P), Jack Hill (S), Peter Batin (W)
Valley: 1st Team All- League Olrick Breboneria (NHS) MVP, Carlos Alvarez (Alv), Josh Perham (NHS), Alex Siao (G), Peter Hilkene (Chris), Christian Ibadlit (Alv)
2nd Team All- League Tommy Cox (G), Taeshawn Hoenck (Chris), Alex Bjerre (NMC), Brandon Ahlin (Alv), Marcos Pulido- Oljeda (Alv), Tyson Hill (Chris)
Sportsmanship Awards Orlando Munoz (Ali), Carlos Alvarez (Alv), Jaeshawn Hoenck (Chris), Alex Saio (G), Adam Bingham (NMC), Anna Melin (NSH)
