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Turlock and Pitman boast top CCC golf teams
Pitman golf
Bryan Rouse of Pitman will look to anchor the Pride for the upcoming year as a four-year varsity player and should be one of the top CCC players. - photo by EDDIE RUIZ/The Journal

Turlock High's golf teams have dominated the Central California Conference over the past several years but last year was a different story after Buhach Colony won by two strokes.

 

After a close run just a season ago, Turlock is back at it, and this time with a much deeper squad for head coach Jason Boswell, but they will also have to go through Pitman if they hope to stand a chance. The Pride returns one of the league’s top players in Bryan Rouse.

 

“Last year with the team we had I thought we did really well because we continued to improve over the course of the season. With that group, I would take what we did any time,” said Boswell.

 

“We are not quite where we want to be yet, but we are focused and the guys need to stay focused and do what we do,” said Pitman head coach Matt Jeans. “I think we can come in and battle for the CCC but we will have to beat Turlock. It’s that simple.”

 

Turlock is boasting one of the best teams, if not, the best team in the CCC with lone senior Bailey Old leading the herd as the number one.

 

Sophomore Preston Magina and Connor Old should be some aggressive players who provide consistency for the top four of the line that should also include Logan Lucero.

 

Although, Boswell will have four incoming freshman who can all play some serious golf.

 

“This year I feel like I have seven or eight kids that can fill those top six spots,” said Boswell. “This year we can mix some things but one of the things we are doing is competition. This year we will do a lot of competition to see if we can get them to compete for their spots and they will have to play a lot of golf in their extra time.”

 

The four-year varsity senior, Rouse, will lead a Pitman team that has no expectations but is really just trying to fly under the radar and progress as the year carries on.

 

“We have a number of new players that have the potential to make this the best team Pitman has had in recent years,” said Jeans.

 

Aside from Rouse will be junior Chandler Hedrick who enters his third year and should compete alongside Rouse for a consistent season.

 

Coltun Lundquist is a junior entering his third year with the Pride team and should help solidify one of the top six spots into possibly being a CCC contender said Jeans.

 

“If we can put together consistent scores in the 80s, then we have a shot at the title,” said Jeans. “Turlock for sure is the team to beat in league. They are always tough. Their kids have a good work ethic, and it shows. As for the other teams in our league, I have no idea where they are as a team, but we will continue to work on our game.”

 

“I think last year, even though we finished how we did, there was disappointment in the kids’ minds because league is the first goal,” Boswell added. “For many teams it might not be, but with us, it is a goal we wish to achieve, but the kids have something to prove this year.”

 

“We are just focused on us and our game, less pressure like that. I feel that these guys will make a run for the CCC title this season but long as we can beat Turlock,” Jeans added.

 

Both sides will compete in the Oakdale Invitational on Monday at a time yet to be determined.