Rough final match leaves the Acorns eager to bounce back at
TCALs
SAN MARTIN — While his players struggled through their final Tri County Athletic League match, Live Oak coach Mike Rubino was inspired to discuss off-days in golf.
“Golf is just one of those sports,” he said. “When you make a bad shot, you have to forget about it, or else you’ll hit another one.
“In baseball, a bad hit can be just a foul ball. The bad part about golf is, you have to play the foul balls, too.”
The Lady Acorns endured an unusual amount of those Tuesday at CordeValle’s blustery championship course; more than they would like heading into the TCAL Championships. Their top five players’ aggregate score of 238 was enough to beat Gilroy (247) but not enough to satisfy the Acorns.
Monta Vista Christian, a team Live Oak bested earlier this season, was tops in the three-team match at 219. That left the Acorns with an impressive 7-3 finish in league, but little else.
“It was just a really bad day for a lot of us,” said Live Oak junior Paige Flores, who carded a team-best 55 through nine holes. “It’s not where we want to be before TCALs.”
Flores, who typically finishes in the mid- to high-40s, shot par on two holes in the 2,746-yard front nine but said she struggled staying focused.
“It’s a tough course, and there were other things bothering me today,” Flores said. “I think about that stuff too much. You have to get over it. Hopefully, I can before next week.”
Teammate Kate Lowrey is just as optimistic. The senior shook off an up-and-down start to finish well on her final three holes (Nos. 1, 2, 3). Using her sound chipping, she shot par on the short second hole to highlight a 60, three strokes off her average.
“My swing was bad today. It was all over the place,” she said. “I’m confident inside 100 yards, but I have to get there first.”
Sophomore Jennifer Schwegler (59) finished second for the Acorns, ahead of classmate Nikki Lau (64) and freshman Jada Williams (66), whom Rubino said has tremendous potential.
Rubino hasn’t announced which five players he will send to TCAL finals Monday at Salinas Country Club, but he gave his entire team a chance to prove themselves Tuesday.
“I wanted all of them to get out here and play nine holes — even the ones that don’t have anyone to play against,” he said. “It’s up to them to qualify.”
The 10-team TCAL Championships mark the end of a chapter for Live Oak girls golf, which will join the new Blossom Valley Athletic League starting in 2010. The Acorns haven’t thought that far ahead, though. They just want to play Monday.
“We’re going to do a lot better,” Flores said. “It’s an easier course.”
