By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Ripon, Ripon Christian capture section
East Union’s Griggs, Lathrop’s Marcello also qualify for Masters
ripon golf.jpeg

Bulletin staff reports

MATHER — Ripon’s narrow defeat in the Trans-Valley League Championships is long forgotten.

The Indians settled for an even bigger prize Monday at unfamiliar Mather Golf Course, where they narrowly garnered the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V title with a 457. Bret Harte also checked in with a 457, but the Indians’ throwaway score of 106 from Aidan Nilsson proved to be the difference.

Only the winning team from the Division V tourney along with six individuals qualify for next Monday’s SJS Masters Tournament held at The Reserve at Spanos Park. Ripon now has five banners for boys golf.

“I’m really happy for them, especially with the adversity we’ve had this year and being essentially eliminated from league (title contention) after the first week,” Ripon coach Chris Musseman said. “They stuck together, and our goal was that his is the tournament we had to win and they got it done today.”

Escalon went undefeated in TVL play and beat Ripon twice in early dual matches. The Indians had a chance to get even in the TVL tournament but lost on the tiebreaking No. 6 score. Escalon ended up four strokes shy of Ripon in the section tournament despite a 77 from Masters qualifier Chase Shears. 

Union Mine’s Tyler Burink recorded a 72 for the individual crown.

One week after earning the TVL’s MVP and Most Outstanding honors, Nico Ilardi led Ripon with an 82. Cade McCusker (85), Gage Anderson (95), Jacob Baird (97) and Kenny Johnson (98) rounded out the Indians’ score.

“It wasn’t the pretty score but good enough to get it done,” Musseman said, adding that the unfamiliarity of the track may have led to the unusually high scores all-around. “Nico did not have his best day and his short game let him down a bit. In most of our tournaments he’s in the 70s, so for him to come in with an 81 is a little surprising. The team put together a good enough score and they have a chance to go to Masters.”


Division III

AUBURN — East Union junior Tyler Griggs is heading back to the SJS Masters after carding the third-place score of 71 at The Ridge Golf Club. 

Matthew Sutherland of divisonal champion Rio Americano (396) was low medalist with a 69. Ryan Meyer finished with a 70 for runner-up Oakdale (412), which joins Rio Americano as team qualifiers next week. 

East Union placed ninth as a team with a 536. Lucas Couch (103), Brandon Ugalino (115), Dawson Mix (120) and Brent Linton (127) are other scorers for the Lancers.

Sierra’s Damian Simon (WD), Tristan Gonzalez (118), Michael Erdman (126) and Derrick Kuwandu (119) participated as individual qualifiers. 


Division IV

STOCKTON — The new-look Western Athletic Conference represented well at Elkhorn Golf Club.

Lathrop’s Luke Marcelo placed in the top 10 and is one of six individual qualifiers for Masters with his 94 score Fellow Spartan Sebastian Iniguez had his season end with a 118. 

Ceres moves onto Masters as a team after claiming the Division IV banner with a 513. Three individual Masters qualifiers are also from the WAC.


Division VI

PATTERSON — Danton Indelicato was not successful in defending his individual section title, but the 2019 crown won’t be far.

His younger brother Camdan spearheaded Ripon Christian’s dominant effort at Diablo Grande, carding a 5-under 67 on the strength of five birdies and an eagle. Danton stumbled at the start but ended strong, sinking birdies on three of his final six holes for a third-place 76.

Sacramento Adventist Academy’s Jamison Collins scored an even 72 for second place and one of three individual berths to the SJS Masters. 

Ripon Christian is the lone qualifier out of the division after it tallied a 428 for its fourth section championship. The Knights’ other scorers were Dylan Koolhaus (91), Darin Doek (97) and Alec Berghorst (97). Alex Sonke had their throw-out score of 109.