LONG BEACH – Servite boys golf coach Dane Jako came up with a drill that was almost cruel. Putting has been a problem, so in one recent trip to the course, the Friars never left the practice green.
Before any player could go home, Jako made them sink 25 6-foot putts and 25 3-footers. If anyone missed, the count went back to zero.
“They did not like that very much,” Jako said. “I think that refocused them on what we need to do.”
It did for one player at least. Martin Manalo needed only 24 putts to complete his round at Recreation Golf Course in Long Beach and medal for the fourth time this season, shooting a 4-under 68. Poxomity to the hole played a role in Manalo’s putting stats as the majority of his approach shots landed with 15 feet of the pin. He had five birdies on Monday to go along with one bogey.
“I am pretty happy with that. I hit pretty much all of the fairways, and I gave myself a lot of chances,’ Manalo said.
Manalo was one of seven Friars to break 80 at Rec Park. Tanner Dice carded a 2-over 74, Nick Cantlay added a 75 while sophomores Brandon Brame and Matt Wilson each fired a 76 to help Servite finish 9-over as a team.
“One you point out their mistakes, they realize where they are losing shots,” Jako said. “So we started writed things down and thinking about what we are doing. But we still have too many three putts. We are good (at putting), but we have to get a lot better to win.”
In the Herald Invitational
Marcus de la Rosa and Isaiah Aguirre both carded a 1-under 69 at Candlewood Country Club to help Mater Dei win the Herald Invitational for the second year in a row with a four-player score of 291. Calvary Chapel took second with a 307, and were led by Daniel Dimaculangan, who won the individual title with a 2-under 68.
