As a junior standout at Turlock High, Teo Chiesa was the Most Valuable Player for the Central California Conference for the 2012-2013 year. Now a senior, Chiesa returns in his final season with high hopes of another successful campaign and perhaps a future in golf.

“I expect big things and I am setting really high goals and expectations,” said Chiesa of his final high school year. “My mind is set on playing in college and I want to have options and play at a good school. I am open to any school if someone offers me a scholarship. I am not picky with just one particular place to go to.”

Chiesa says this offseason he is already training harder than previous years, participating in as many tournaments in the area as he can before beginning the season.

“I am already practicing my butt off to get to where I want to be,” Chiesa said. “I felt my freshman and sophomore year, I would go practice a few times but not as tough of a practice schedule really. This year I am going to hit it hard. I didn’t practice as hard as I could last year, so I struggled, but after practicing a lot, I got better half way.”

The most recent was the Bumgardner Junior Memorial on Saturday and Sunday. Out of 80 representatives, Teo topped off in third place at one under par.

“On the first day I was surprised I did so good,” said Chiesa. “Golf is a game that one day you’re on top and the next you can’t do anything right, but on the second day I was able to keep my composure and finished really well.”

In Santa Rosa, where the terrain was horrific due to the rain, Chiesa finished 9th out of 55.

“The second day, the course was under water and I feel like I played well because it was raining,” Chiesa said. “It was a tough day.”

Chiesa has participated in five tournaments since finishing the school year, placing in the top four twice at Del Rio and Muni in Modesto. The next big finish was the Spring Creek National tournament, where he shot even par on the first day and placed seventh out of over 90 participants. The next day he topped at three under after 14 holes.

Chiesa will be competing in the Matt Hansen tournament at Stevinson Ranch Golf Club Saturday and Sunday. The Oakdale Rotary is on Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday Chiesa will play at the George Maroney tournament at Creek Side and Dryden.