BOYS GOLF SCHEDULES
Pitman High Pride
Nonconference
Monday: vs. Oakdale at Diablo Grande, 3 p.m.
March 14: at Yellowjackets Invitational at Stevinson Ranch, 8:30 a.m.
March 16: vs. Oakdale at Oakdale CC
March 21: at Merced Invitational, 9 a.m.
April 18: at Golden Valley Invitational, 9 a.m.
Central California Conference
Thursday: vs. Atwater at Diablo Grande, 3 p.m.
March 17: vs. Merced at Merced CC, 3 p.m.
March 22: vs. Buhach Colony at Diablo Grande, 3 p.m.
March 24: vs. Turlock at Turlock CC, 3 p.m.
March 28: Midseason Tournament at Pheasant Run, 9 a.m.
April 7: vs. Golden Valley at Diablo Grande, 3 p.m.
April 12: vs. Atwater at Ranch Del Rey, 3 p.m.
April 14: vs. Merced at Diablo Grande, 3 p.m.
April 19: vs. Buhach Colony at Rancho Del Rey, 3 p.m.
April 21: vs. Turlock at Diablo Grande, 3 p.m.
May 3: CCC Tournament at Pheasant Run, 9 a.m.
Turlock High Bulldogs
Central California Conference
Thursday: vs. Merced at Merced CC, 3 p.m.
March 17: vs. Buhach Colony at Turlock CC, 3 p.m.
March 22: vs. Golden Valley at Merced CC, 3 p.m.
March 24: vs. Pitman at Turlock CC, 3 p.m.
March 28: Midseason Tournament at Pheasant Run, 9 a.m.
April 7: vs. Atwater at Rancho Del Rey, 3 p.m.
April 12: vs. Merced at Turlock CC, 3 p.m.
April 14: vs. Buhach Colony at Rancho Del Rey, 3 p.m.
April 19: vs. Golden Valley at Turlock CC, 3 p.m.
April 21: vs. Turlock at Diablo Grande, 3 p.m.
May 3: CCC Tournament at Pheasant Run, 9 a.m.
Turlock Christian Eagles
Nonconference
March 14: vs. Hilmar at Stevinson Ranch, 8:30 a.m.
March 17: vs. Franklin of Elk Grove at Stevinson Ranch, 3:30 p.m.
March 21: vs. Liberty of Brentwood at Discovery Bay, 10 a.m.
April 19-23: at Palmetto Tourney at Myrtle Beach Southern League March 22: vs. Ripon Christian at Stevinson Ranch, 3 p.m.
March 24: vs. Mariposa at Sierra Meadows, 3 p.m.
March 29: vs. Le Grand at Stevinson Ranch, 3 p.m.
March 31: at Gustine, 3 p.m.
April 5: vs. Waterford at Stevinson, 3 p.m.
April 7: at Ripon Christian, 3 p.m.
April 12: vs. Mariposa at Stevinson Ranch, 3 p.m.
April 13: vs. Gustine at Stevinson Ranch, 3 p.m.
April 14: vs. Le Grand at Pheasant Run, 3 p.m.
April 28: at Waterford, 3 p.m.
May 3: Southern League Championships
Hilmar Yellowjackets
Trans-Valley League
Tuesday: vs. Hughson at Stevinson Ranch, 4 p.m.
Thursday: vs. Modesto Christian at Stevinson Ranch, 4 p.m.
March 15: at Riverbank, 4 p.m.
March 17: vs. Orestimba, 4 p.m.
March 22: at Escalon, 4 p.m.
March 28: TVL Tournament at Pheasant Run March 31: vs. Ripon, 4 p.m.
April 5: at Hughson, 4 p.m.
April 7: at Modesto Christian, 4 p.m.
April 12: vs. Riverbank at Stevinson Ranch, 4 p.m.
April 14: at Orestimba, 4 p.m.
April 19: vs. Escalon at Stevinson Ranch, 4 p.m.
The theme for the high school boys golf teams is this: Keep getting better, keep climbing up.
Turlock High is making a run for its eighth Central California Conference title under the Smith era and new coach Jason Boswell.
Pitman High looks to build its team chemistry while being led by Troy Bennett, who had a strong performance at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament last season.
Turlock Christian is looking for another league title, this time with a well-experienced group.
And Hilmar is coming off a banner season.
This will be the last season for Turlock’s Paul Smith, who’s the younger brother of USC standout Sam Smith. Paul will play for the Cal State Stanislaus men’s golf team after graduating. But before doing that, he will once again take on the role as leader, seeing that he’s a returning NorCal finalist. He and the Bulldogs will look to capture their eighth league title, a streak that goes back to Sam’s first season at Turlock High.
“We are counting on Paul Smith to be our leader,” said Boswell about his senior, who will get support from the likes of returner Tyler Gomes and freshman Teo Chiesa. “We expect to compete for a league title. This year’s league has very good teams from top to bottom. With having some success in the past, we need to be on top of our game when competing against teams in our league.”
The Pride also look to be competitive. They return Bennett, who’s a Masters Tournament qualifier. For the most part, Pitman will be a young group that hopes to get better and better as the season goes on.
“As far as where we will be at the end of the season, anything is possible,” Pitman coach Matt Jeans said. “The past couple of years we have been in the middle of the pack and surged through at the end to go on to playoffs. It is very possible that we move on again this year.”
Turlock Christian is always a contender for a league championship, and it’s no different this season. The Eagles return a bevy of talented players, including seniors Kathleen Rojas and Chase Ulrich, junior Kyle Cederlind and sophomore Esther Rojas. The Rojas’ compete on the boys team because TC does not have a girls program.
The Eagles expect to have Ben Paris and Kaylyn King also play important roles.
“There’s a lot of good competition for the top spot,” Turlock Christian coach Jeff Cederlind said. “We have seven, eight players that are fighting for spots. We should be able to have a good year.”
Hilmar had a memorable run last season, finishing with a 15-0 record and a league title.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.
