Three local golfers qualify for Masters Tournament

El Capitan High School boys golf coach Bobby Johnson was on the course dealing with a controversial ruling, so he missed much of the drama involving his own player, Christopher Giardina, on Monday at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championships at the Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland.

Giardina shot an 85 to tie Bear River’s Hunter Monts for the third and final individual Masters qualifying spot.

Giardina and Monts had to play one playoff hole to break the tie.

“I didn’t know he was in a playoff until I was coming back in,” Johnson said. “I asked someone if he won and he didn’t know. So I was trying to read (Giardina’s) body language as I came in. I thought, ‘Oh shoot, he lost.’ Then I found out he won.”

Giardina sank a 20-foot par putt to win the playoff hole and advance to next week’s Masters tournament at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton.

“He was really excited,” Johnson said. “He was bummed at first because he shot an 85. Then he found out he was in a playoff.”

Not bad for a freshman.

“He’s a great kid and he loves to play golf,” Johnson said. “He’s a golfer. Some kids play golf because they can’t find anything else to play and they want to play a sport. That’s not Christopher. He spends a lot of time on the golf course.”

The Gauchos’ Jake Leonardo just missed the playoff, shooting an 86. Anthony Lizdas had a 92 and Tyler Dietz a 97 for El Capitan, which finished fourth with a 476.

Los Banos was led by Jimmy Georgiou’s 98 as the Tigers finished seventh with a 535. Livingston’s Jesse Carbajal had a 94 and Damian Albores a 96.

At the the Division I South Tournament at the Elkhorn Golf Course in Stockton, Buhach Colony’s Alec Barajas (79) and Justin Palsey (81) qualified for Masters.

“As the scores were going up, I noticed all the low scores belonged to the good teams,” Buhach Colony coach Rich Cometta said. “I started thinking we might get some kids in there. It’s always fun watching them put up the scores. Alec was pretty happy with his round. Justin is a perfectionist. When he doesn’t shoot a 75, he’s mad.”

The Thunder’s Shane Watts just missed qualifying for Masters with an 83. Also competing at the Division I South Tournament were Atwater’s Gabriel Rodriguez (88), Buhach Colony’s Logan Koster (89) and Merced’s John Richey (117).

Local trio named to all-state basketball teams

The postseason honors continue to come in for Golden Valley senior Stephanie Moore. The Merced Sun-Star and Modesto Bee Girls Basketball Player of the Year was named to the Cal-Hi Sports large school all-state third team.

Moore is a two-time Central California Conference MVP after leading the Cougars to back-to-back conference championships. She averaged 18.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.2 steals this season.

Moore was joined on the team by Merced senior Lexi Thompson. The Simpson University-bound guard averaged 17.9 points this season.

Mariposa senior Dalton Rockwood was named to the Division V all-state first team by MaxPreps. The Southern League MVP averaged over 17 points per game and helped lead the Grizzlies to their first Sac-Joaquin Section championship.

Merced’s Nickles surging toward playoffs

Madilyn Nickles put on a show in the softball postseason last year during the Bears’ deep run. The UCLA-bound star went 11 for 16 with six runs, 10 RBIs and two home runs in five playoff games.

Nickles is closing this regular season with another impressive run. In Merced’s last eight games, Nickles is 20 for 26 with four home runs, 13 runs and 16 RBIs as the Bears have won seven of eight.

Nickles is hitting .557 with seven home runs, 27 runs and 23 RBIs.

Section swimming on tap this week

The top swimmers in the section will compete in the Masters Meet on Saturday at Tokay High beginning at 10 a.m.

To advance to Saturday, swimmers will have to survive trials. The girls trials will be held Thursday at Tokay beginning at 10 a.m. The boys trials will be held on Friday starting at 10 a.m. at Tokay.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 7:23 PM with the headline "Three local golfers qualify for Masters Tournament."