Ripon High boys golf coach Chris Musseman isn’t getting his hopes up just yet, but his team’s Trans-Valley League opening win gives him reason for optimism.

Nick Sharp finished 1-over 36 at Spring Creek Golf & Country Club on Tuesday, as the defending champion Indians handily beat Escalon, 218-241. Musseman believes that Escalon is favored in the TVL this year. He is glad that his players proved him wrong, at least for the day.

“Going in we weren’t sure where we would come out in the mix,” Musseman said. “We had to retool because we lost so many seniors. This is a positive note for us. The kids stepped up.

“If we can stay at around 218 or even get better we’ll have a shot. I know this isn’t a good score for Escalon and we still have to go to their place.”

Sharp buried two birdies in his medalist round. Robby Figeroid (42), Nathan Suender (45), Michael Miller (45) and Anthony Matthews (50) also factored into the scoring. Suender managed a solid round despite taking a quadruple bogey on the ninth hole. Escalon’s Lane Cadell finished second with a 40.

Ripon next heads to River Oaks Golf Course on Thursday for what Musseman calls “the trap match” against Hughson.

“I’ve had some really good teams lose there,” Musseman said. “This is a tough start to league.”

Nonleague

Ripon Christian 184, Hughson 197

The Knights needed to shoot a good score to hold off a game Hughson squad at Jack Tone Golf Course.

They were paced by Kyle Colyn and Andrew Manes’ 1-over 32s. Jesse DeRousse contributed a 36, Vance Sipma a 30 and Austin Alger a 45.

Ben Johannes was Hughson’s top performer with a 34.