When Ricky Castillo tees off with the Valencia boys golf team, he is thinking about more than just helping the Tigers win another Empire League match.
He is using that time on the course to get ready to compete in a tournament next month which he views as The Master’s for junior golfers, complete with caddies in white uniforms and a jacket for the champion.
Castillo was the only player from Orange County to earn a spot in the elite national field for the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club in South Carolina, and Wednesday’s match against Empire League rival Tustin gave him a glimpse at what to expect when he travels to the east coast in April.
Strong, gusting wind, Castillo said, has a tendency to whip around Sage Valley, similar to what it was like Tustin Ranch Golf Club on Wednesday, so this was a perfect chance to him to work on some shots that might come in handy in South Carolina.
Judging by the score he put up, he’s definitely on the right track to conquer even the strongest of wind. He carded a 1-under-par 35 on the back nine to medal for the sixth consecutive match and lead Valencia to a 221-251 victory against Tustin.
“I have been playing pretty well right now. I am just trying to peak myself for that tournament,” Castillo said. “I am not playing my best, but I am on the right track, and hopefully, my game will be solid going into that tournament.”
Castillo has posted the lowest score in all six matches that the Tigers have played this, and is seven under par during that span.
He was the only player to post sub-par round on Wednesday. Dustin Vasquez led the Tillers with a 42.
The conditions at Tustin Ranch, Castillo said, were quite a challenge.
“You have to hit a shot where you think it will end up being a good shot. You can’t second guess yourself,” he said. “You have to trust that you know what the wind is doing. It can be difficult.”
At times, he said, he was playing in a three-club wind. The 542-yard, par-5 15th was one of them. He had 115 yards left to the green for his third shot, which is usually a big lob wedge for him, but he had to hit a big pitching wedge to get to the green. He ended up birdying the hole.
“I try to focus on ever shot in these matches and give it a tournament feel,” Castillo said. “I try to use every match to get better and not just mess around.”
