LODI — Ripon High’s girls golf team is the Sac-Joaquin Section Division V runner-up for a second straight year, but this time two Indians will advance to next week’s SJS Masters.
Alex Gonzales and Laura Williams were among three players — the other being Maddie Kindberg of Escalon — battling for the final two individual spots after they carded 85s through 18 holes at Micke Grove Golf Links. The trio bogeyed the first playoff on hole 1. On the fourth hole, Williams knocked in a 4-foot birdie putt to punch her ticket to Masters, and Gonzales followed with a 2-foot par putt. Kindberg bogeyed the hole.
“It was so much fun watching the girls perform under pressure,” Ripon coach Eric Dambrosio said. “They stuck to their routines and stayed focused. I am very proud of the way they handled themselves.”
Only the first-place team and three individuals qualify for Masters out of this tournament. In the team competition Capital Christian captured the Division V title with a 457, 13 strokes better than Ripon, the two-time defending Valley Foothill League North Division champion. Ripon Christian placed seventh with a 617.
Capital Christian’s Micaiah Lee was low medalist with a 9-over 81. Sonora’s Megan Popovich took second with an 83 to seize the first individual Masters berth.
Claire Wever (eighth, 92) Bianca Toledo (14th, 105), Myra Toledo (19th, 105) also scored for the Indians. Ripon Christian was led by 114s from Lauren Henderson and Madi De Graf, who were part of a 35th-place tie. Henderson earned low medalist honors at the VFL South Tournament last week.
The Masters Tournament is next Monday, Oct. 31 at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton.
Division III
EL DORADO HILLS — Manteca Unified golfers were shut out from Masters contention Monday at Serrano Country Club.
East Union’s Natalie Cowan fared the best, finishing with a 90 for 11th place. The Lancers as a team shot a 519 with other contributions coming from Kendra Campbell (101), Hayley Leonard (105), Presley Graham (108) and Kennedy Goodnough (115).
Manteca’s Haighley Kissee (108) and Sierra Martinez (125) competed as individuals, as did Bryanna Gavino (111) and Legacy Barnes (112) of Sierra.
Team qualifiers for Masters were Christian Brothers (453) and Valley Oak League champion Oakdale (462). Christian Brothers’ Beah Cruz and Inderkum’s Monique Peterson were co-medalists with 78s.
