For all that Ty Griggs has already accomplished in golf, there are boxes that remain unchecked as he goes into his final year at East Union.
The three-time Valley Oak League MVP repeats as Manteca Bulletin All-Area Male Golfer of the Year after yet another sparkling campaign that ended in heartbreak. Griggs has come up short in his quest to compete in the CIF State Championships but has another shot at it before taking his talents to Southern California.
“You only get four tries and after that it’s over,” Griggs said. He is still committed to UCLA and plans to sign his National Letter of Intent during the upcoming school year.
“I have one more year to make something happen. It has been my goal since freshman year — make it to state and win."
He has had varying results in the postseason so far.
Griggs failed to qualify for the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament as a freshman. He not only made it his sophomore year but continued onto the CIF Northern California Regional Championships, which took place at Woodbridge Golf & Country Club.
He had rare off day at the familiar course, shooting 7-over 78 and missing a berth to the state tournament.
This past spring, Griggs had his best finish in the SJS Division III Tournament. He took third with a 71 at The Ridge Golf Club in Auburn, earning another trip to the section’s Masters event held annually at The Reserve at Spanos Park.
The Manteca area was well represented at Masters, which featured Ripon Christian standouts, and brothers, Camdan and Danton Indelicato, Ripon’s Nico Ilardi and Lathrop’s Luke Marcelo.
Ilardi, the Trans-Valley League MVP and Most Outstanding Golfer, led the Indians to the SJS Division V title the previous week, while the Indelicatos anchored Ripon Christian’s Division VI championship. Camdan, a freshman, was low medalist, and Danton is reigning MVP in the Southern Athletic League.
Griggs outshined them all at The Reserve, but he stumbled at the end of the round and narrowly missed a spot in the NorCal tourney. In contention for the Masters individual crown, he wound up bogeying three of his final four holes and settled for a 2-over 74 — one stroke shy of forcing a three-man playoff and four off medalist honors.
“That was the only thing about the whole high school season that was a letdown was not being able to advance,” Griggs said. “(Qualifying for) state was definitely my goal.”
League rival Ryan Meyer, a sophomore from Oakdale, did move on and made the most of the opportunity, claiming the NorCal individual title and ending in a sixth-place tie in the state finale held at Poppy Hills. Griggs and Meyer are co-MVPs in the VOL. Griggs was low medalist in the VOL Championships at Brookside Golf & Country Club, carding a 66 against Meyer’s 68.
“It means a lot to be MVP again, especially having some good competition against guys like Ryan Meyer,” Griggs said. “Other than (not advancing to) state, I had a really good high school season and it prepared me well for the summer. I have been shooting some pretty good scores.”
Griggs is ranked No. 26 in the country by Junior Golf Scoreboard and he remains busy competing in the American Junior Golf Association Tour. He recently claimed the Manteca City Amateur Stroke Play crown at Manteca Park Golf Course, ending with a two-day total of 138 (72-66) on June 22-23. He has also qualified as a first alternate for the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship set for Aug. 12-18 at Pinehurst.

ALL-AREA TEAM
Boys golf
Camdan Indelicato, RC, Fr.
Danton Indelicato, RC, Jr.
Nico Ilardi, Ripon, Jr.
Luke Marcelo, Lathrop, Jr.
Cade McCusker, Ripon, Sr.