PHS advances to Valley golf tourney
SHS and GHHS golfers move on as well
A number of local boys golfers are headed to the CIF Central Section Championship tournament after strong performances at Tuesday’s Central Area meet at the Lemoore Golf Course.
A number of local boys golfers are headed to the CIF Central Section Championship tournament after strong performances at Tuesday’s Central Area meet at the Lemoore Golf Course.
All six of Porterville High School’s golfers advanced to Valley after the team shot a 451 to finish second behind El Diamante in the Division II team scoring, as well as overall teams from both Div. I and II. For the Panthers David “DJ” Herrera carded an 82, Parker Jones an 87, Ethan Standridge a 90, Jarod Forrester a 93, Tyler Jones a 97 and Tro-qhill Franco a 119.
“We had a tough day putting as a team, but played very well on a course we have never played as a team,” PHS head coach David Herrera said. “I’m very proud of this team and what they have accomplished.”
Joining Porterville at Monday’s Valley meet at the Madera Golf Course will be Granite Hills’ Colton Painther and Shane Lozano, along with Strathmore’s Jeeven Larson who shot a 75 to place third amongst all individual golfers. Monache’s Austin Thompson also made it to Area, but shot a 99 and didn’t advance to Valley.
“I was very happy with his play today,” SHS head coach Eddie Green said about Larson. He added that Larson was even-par on the front nine and 3-over on the back nine. Green believes Larson is still in a position to improve and do even better at Valley, which leaves Green excited for next week.
The Grizzlies’ top two golfers also placed in the top 10 with Painter carding a 77 for fourth and Lozano taking eighth with an 82. Herrera was tied for eighth with Lozano, but lost the tiebreaker and finished 10th.
“I was happy for my boys to once again meet one of their season goals — to place in top 10 in order to get to the Valley Section Championship,” GHHS head coach Shelly Lozano said. “This is exciting for the boys, Granite Hills and PUSD (Porterville Unified School District). I’m elated as their coach to see their performance and composure under championship pressure. I think they both had fun today.”
On Painter, Lozano said, “Colton played very steady all day. The first hole he was partially in a hazard on his drive and he made an amazing shot out of there with the lie he had and he recovered to get a par to start his day. I felt that gave him confidence in what kind of day it was going to be. Most shots he can make and he does a great job shaping his shots when needed. I’m so proud of his fourth-place finish. I have to admire the tenacity of his game.”
About Shane Lozano, coach Shelly Lozano said, “He didn’t get into a lot of trouble today, he was close many times for greens in regulation. I know he was most disappointed in his wedge play and he really felt he could have been closer to the hole in order to give him more chances for a par or birdie. He missed a few by fractions of an inch.” Monache head coach Jake Winter said Thompson had a “rough day” after starting out with four straight bogeys. Thompson then had an errant tee shot on his fifth hole that led to a couple of shots into trees and finished with a quadruplebogey.
“He is very disappointed, but he was in good spirits after,” Winter said. “He finished his last four holes on the front side with three bogeys and a par. He said it was good experience and he is ready to start working for next year.”