Four seniors return to GHS boys team that finished in third
place at Laguna Seca GC
LAGUNA SECA – Four seniors will anchor the Gilroy High boys golf team’s line-up this season, giving the Mustangs some experience up top, but two sophomores up from JV and a freshman fill the remaining spots, playing in their first varsity campaigns.
“I think we’ll be competitive,” Coach Eric Kuwada said. “We have two sophomores and a freshman who are inexperienced. If we are competitive, they are going to have to learn very quickly that every stroke counts on the golf course. They have to start using course strategy.”
In Tuesday’s opening meet on a muddy, wet Laguna Seca GC, the Mustang duffers finished in third place with a 206 team tally behind league front-runners Palma (195) and Salinas (198).
Senior Thomas Hoshida shot a team-low 37 over nine holes, while senior Ryan Dinsmore followed with a 41 and freshman Jordan Miller came in with a solid 42. Senior Daniel Perry and sophomore Stephen Freeth both finished with 43s, and sophomore Chad Wilson rounded out the line-up with a 48.
“We shot a 206, which wasn’t bad,” said Kuwada, who is still waiting on senior John Gurich’s return once he completes his wrestling season at the CIF State Meet this weekend in Bakersfield. “I was surprised at how they shot today. It was more than I imagined for our first match.”
Last season, the Mustangs finished fourth in the Tri-County Athletic League and two graduates, Chad Brownfield (now at Gavilan) and Ale Rodriguez (Santa Cruz), reached the Central Coast Section Championship as individual qualifiers.
The team has been practicing at Eagle Ridge GC, which Kuwada believes is an advantage since the course will be the most challenging of all that they play on during the season.
“It’s all a matter of how they shoot. That’s what I’ve been working with Ryan and some of the other guys, the more mental part of the game, not getting distracted and not blowing up on holes,” said the eighth-year head coach. “That’s something our team has struggled with, especially since we’re practicing on Eagle Ridge.”
