Golf appears to be an individual game with one player battling the course and the elements. But it’s teamwork that has turned Woodbridge into the favorite to win the Pacific Coast League.
“They get along really well, and we have had great chemistry,” Woodbridge boys golf coach Tracy Roberts said. “The older guys on the team have been working with the younger guys to show them what team golf is about.”
The new players must be paying attention as two freshman, Hide Yoshihara and Nicholas Kumamoto, posted two of the lowest scores on Thursday at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course to help the Warriors beat Corona del Mar, 188-202, and remain undefeated in the PCL
Yoshihara carded an even-par 36 to share medalist honors with his sophomore teammate Andy Bushan. Kumamoto finished with a 1-over 37. Ryan O’Connor also shot a 37 as four of the six Warriors who played Thursday broke 40. As a team, the Warriors (8-2, 4-0) were 8-over par.
“You do that, and you are going to be the match with anyone in the county,” Roberts said.
The matches in which Woodbridge has had the most success have been preceded by practice rounds that turned into scrambles with the Warriors playing each other’s shots, putting te focus on the team.
“What is great about that is it is all about what they are doing and not what I am doing,” Roberts said. “The are just playing golf. It is not about anything extraneous. They just go out and have a good time.”
Ian Fletcher and Karick Brown both finished with a 3-over 38 to lead Corona del Mar (8-5, 2-2). Fletcher was making his first varsity start on Tuesday, replacing Chase Wheatley, who is in Arizona playing in the AJGA Heather Farr Classic.
The Sea Kings went undefeated in the PCL the last four seasons, but they have lost their last two PCL matches.
“I am not used to losing,” Corona del Mar coach Mike Starkweather said. “But I think we still have a shot at it (the PCL championship). The kids have the skills to do it.”
