YORBA LINDA – Thomas Gutierrez plays Black Gold Golf Club a lot, enough to know what club he needs to hit on every hole on the front nine. But on Wednesday he didn’t have a clue what he needed to do, saying it was as if he saw the course for the first time when he teed off in the final group for El Dorado.
Playing in a howling two-club wind and on greens that had recently been punched turned this nonleague match with La Serna into more of a mental challenge than any other he said he has played this season for the Golden Hawks.
“It really got my mind going, thinking about it, just making sure I picked the right club,” Gutierrez said.
Judging by the results, he couldn’t have done any better. Gutierrez holed two birdies, seven pars and needed only 14 putts to post a 2-under-par 34 to help lead the Golden Hawks to a 195-233 victory.
It was his lowest round of the season on El Dorado’s home course and the first time this spring that he has earned medalist honors.
“I hit more greens than I usually do today, and I putted pretty well. But I have been putting well all season. I think the most putts I have had is 16,” Gutierrez said. “I just haven’t been able to put a round like this together because I haven’t been hitting greens.”
Cole Alexander and Matt Lutz also broke 40 for the Golden Hawks (7-2), carding a 38 and 39 respectively. Both came within a matter of inches of holing their approaches on the par-4 ninth for an eagle.
Lutz’s second shot landed on the fringe and nicked the right side of the cup before rolling to the back of the green. He two-putted for par. Alexander’s approach, though, came to rest about six inches from the pin, leaving him with a tap-in birdie.
“We started off slow this year. I don’t know why. But we should be good this year,” El Dorado coach Wayne Carlson said. “They are starting to come into their own. Matt, Thomas and Cole are all solid players. But you need a good fifth and sixth guy, and that is what we are working on. We are a bit inconsistent there now.”
