Bulldogs discover joy in victory after winless ’09
SAN JOSE — Asking Sobrato seniors Doug Bennett and Reed Campbell to compare and contrast this golf season and last is like asking someone to do the same for winning and losing — which feels better?
Last year, the mighty Bulldogs finished an immaculately imperfect 0-16, a feat Bennett and Campbell still view as a minor achievement. This year, they are 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mount Hamilton Division. Their averages are down; their work ethic is up, and coach Jeff Bernstein said their maturity has improved.
One would say their mindset is different this spring.
“One would say that. One would say winning feels better than losing,” Campbell said Thursday.
“No, not really. Winning feels pretty much the same as losing for us,” Bennett added. “We’re just having fun out here, you know? That’s the most important thing for us.”
Where they rank among the best teams in the Blossom Valley Athletic League may not matter to the Bulldogs, but playing to their ability does. That much is shown in their willingness to improve.
By tackling his biggest obstacle, his temper, Bennett has shaved his nine-hole average down to a team-best 41.5.
“I’m not letting a blow-up hole ruin my game,” he said. “I’m doing what I can to help us win. Our first one felt great. It was our first in two seasons.”
Campbell hopes to be shooting in the mid to high 30s by the end of the season.
“My irons are a lot better this year,” he said. “That’s all I use.”
The team’s other top scorers — seniors Wes Flippo (43.5), a newcomer, and Glenn Patterson (45) — play with the same competitive drive that Bernstein said the Bulldogs lacked in the 2009 season, their first in the Blossom Valley Athletic League ‘A’ division. Bernstein said each has a fair chance to qualify for the May 4 BVAL Individual Championship tournament, which admits at least two players from each team.
Sobrato’s next match is against Santa Teresa at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Summitpointe Golf Club.
“Last year, they just felt defeated from the start, but they kept the score close in some of their matches later on,” the second-year coach said. “They’ve been able to win a few matches, so their confidence is up. They want to end their high school careers on a higher note.”
