Led by three top-six medal winners Monday, Ripon Christian captured its fourth consecutive title in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI Tournament at Cherry Island Golf Course in Elverta.
The Knights’ dominant performance came with a program-record low for an 18-hole event, as their 378 was comfortably ahead second-place Woodland Christian (484). Their previous low of 393 was set at the Southern Athletic League Tournament last year at Tracy Golf & Country Club.
Ethan Schenk finished as the individual runner-up with a 3-under-par 69, two strokes shy of low medalist Ethan Gonsalves of Denair.
Matthew Ubick took third with a 70, and Trey Van Groningen was fourth with a 72. Carter Van Groningen took ninth with a 78, and Ben Miller contributed an 88. Jack Dooley also competed for Ripon Christian and recorded the throw-out score at 101.
Ripon Christian is the lone team qualifier for the SJS Masters Tournament held next Monday, May 13 at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton. Three individuals, including Gonsalves, will join the Knights at Masters.
Division V
Ripon was not at its best at Greenhorn Creek Resort, but it was good enough for a third SJS title in four years and a spot in Masters. The top team and six individuals move on.
Vincent Uecker’s third-place score of 7-over 79 led the Indians, whose 435 team tally was 20 strokes clear of runner-up Bret Harte. Colfax’s Giacomo Gaggero was the individual champ with a 74.
Jeremie Little and William Peters added an 83 and 88 for Ripon, respectively. Marcus Atienza turned in a 93, Richie Hughes a 93 and Ty Herrin had the throwaway score of 98.
Division III
East Union’s Michael Pires was the top player among area participants at The Club at Copper Valley, carding a 9-over 81. He finished in a three-way tie for 19th place.
Ethan Freitas of Manteca scored an 85, and Sierra’s Jordenn Llamas Mojarro scored a 99.
Vista del Lago (379) is the tournament champion behind the efforts of co-medalist Hayden Sanders’ 71. Second-place Rio Americano also qualified for Masters.
