Lathrop High sophomore Brayden Beckman has repeated as Western Athletic Conference boys golf MVP, but this time, the rest of the Spartans are getting their shine.
That’s because Lathrop secured its program-first league championship Monday at Dryden Park Golf Course in Modesto. Led by medalist Brayden Beckman’s 4-over par 76, the Spartans netted a first-place score of 461 in the finale. They beat out runner-up Beyer (461) via tiebreaker, as the Patriots did not field a sixth player. Livingston (466), Central Valley (512), Grace Davis (537), Ceres (582) and Johansen (DQ) rounded out the field.
“It has been a wonderful season,” 15th-year Lathrop coach Cesar Fernandez said. “It feels great, but it’s all on the kids who dedicated themselves. I told them last year that they’re going to have to work on your game over the summer, especially the seniors on their way out. I said that if you want to win a championship, this is the year to do it, and they did it.”
Beckman capped another dominant campaign in the WAC, winning all seven tournaments. For the team to have a shot at the title, others had to raise their games.
Fernandez credited his three seniors, as well as assistant coach John Wall Sr. for the improvement. Seniors Jared Isla and Ashneil Jeet carded personal best scores with a fourth-place 88 and 101, respectively. Fourth-year senior Jayden Wall added a 91. Ariyan Patel capped scoring with a 103.
“Those three (seniors) came up big this year, as did our junior AJ Patel,” Fernandez said. “He had to miss a couple tournaments, and those were the ones we lost.”
Beyer’s Landon Fainter and Noah Daigre placed second and third with an 82 and 83, respectively.
Lathrop has advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Tournament, which takes place Tuesday, May 6 at Merced Golf & Country Club.
Trans Valley League
Ripon locked up its fourth consecutive league title Monday at Micke Grove Golf Links, outscoring second-place Ripon Christian, 385-394. Hughson (455), Sonora (472), Hilmar (500), Escalon (DQ) and Orestimba (DQ) followed.
Ripon Christian sophomore Matthew Ubick led local players with a 1-under 71.
Cru Sullivan and Vincent Uecker each carded a 75 to pace Ripon. Alan Bunchien and Kalvin Martin both had 78s. Andrew Bogetti added a 79.
Hudson Schenk contributed a 75 for Ripon Christian. Trey Van Groningen (78), Ben Miller (85) and Carter Van Groningen (85) were the rest of the Knights’ scorers.
Both teams will compete in the SJS Division V Tournament at Micke Grove on May 6.
Valley Oak League
All six individual qualifiers for the SJS Division III Tournament are from Manteca Unified schools.
Manteca’s Ethan Freitas spearheaded all local players with a 78. Also moving on are East Union’s Michael Pires (91), Cody Camarena (89) and Tiago Chandinha (93); Sierra’s Jorrden Llamas Mojarro (92) and Manteca’s Cooper Chamberlain (96).
Freitas and Pires also made the all-league team. Estuardo Duque of Oakdale earned MVP.
Oakdale, led by medalist Nolan Harris’ 73 and runner-up Duque’s 75 at Mike Grove, completed another league championship run with a 412. Central Catholic (449) and Mountain House (463) are joining Oakdale at divisionals as team qualifiers.
Manteca topped local schools with a fourth-place 468 score. Gael Juarez (97), Sebastian Cabrales (98) and Logan Pool (99) also scored for the Buffaloes.
Sierra netted a 485, getting contributions from Carson Murray (97), Jace Neto (97), Jake Llamas Mojarro (99) and Jakob O’Neill (100).
East Union’s 487 included scores from Drew Kalin (104) and Chase Kalin (110).
