Carmel Valley – Live Oak freshmen David Cannon and Kevin Kjellsen picked the right time to play some of their best golf of the season.
The two first-year varsity golfers each shot 8-over 79s at the boys‚ Tri-County Athletic League Golf Finals Monday to qualify for next week’s Central Coast Section Championships.
Palma (380) and San Benito (392) were the two TCAL team qualifiers. Taking medalist honors was Palma’s Paul McChesney with a 2-over 73. San Benito’s Chris Shackleton (74) took second. San Benito’s Derek Stone, Salinas‚ Cody Fudenna and Palma’s Sean Etow all shot 76 to round out the top five finishers.
Based on the rest of the golf season, Salinas (397) would have been the other CCS qualifier after Palma. But the Cowboys have been banned by the CCS from playoffs for the 2006 spring season.
Before the league final, which was played at Carmel Valley’s Quail Lodge Golf Club, Cannon’s best 18-hole round in competition had been an 80 at Stevenson Ranch. Kjellsen, on the other hand, made a drastic improvement in bringing his score down from the mid-90s.
“I just wanted to shoot in the 80s,” Kjellsen said after his round. “I was just tired of shooting in the 90s in our other two 18-hole tournaments.”
Cannon and Kjellsen each had one birdie on the back nine. Cannon’s came on the 142-yard, par-3 12th hole.
“It was the first long putt I made, so that boosted my confidence up more,” Cannon said.
Cannon and Kjellsen earned two of the three individual qualifying spots. The third went to Gilroy’s Jordan Miller, who shot a 78.
Live Oak, which finished with a total score of 419, finished one stroke ahead of Gilroy and ahead of North Salinas. The Acorns‚ other low scorers were Kevin Mom (86), Tim Dronek (86) and Matt Morgan (89).
The CCS Championships will be held Tuesday at Rancho Canada, which is just down the road from Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley.
Although Cannon was happy with his round Monday, he has even higher goals for CCS.
“I would like to break 73 or maybe even get par,” he said.
Ana Patejdl covers sports for South Valley Newspapers. She can be reached at ap******@**********rs.com.
