By Pete Borello
The St. Francis High boys golf team has learned that being the class of the Central Coast Section gets you out of class.
Since playoff matches start early in the day, the further the Lancers advance, the more classes they will miss.
Winning last week’s West Catholic Athletic League tournament, for example, qualified St. Francis for the CCS regional, which was scheduled for Tuesday morning at Rancho Canada Golf Club (West Course) in Carmel.
“I keep kidding them that they’re doing it to get out of school,” coach Dave Ferriera said, “but there’s more to it than that.”
While it’s a good bet every one of the team’s dedicated golfers would rather be playing courses than taking them this time of year, the Lancers are out to accomplish something. Actually, several things.
“They set it up,” Ferriera said of his players when asked about the team’s expectations for this season. “They want to be playing on the last day high school golf is being played in Northern California.”
That would be May 19, when Mira Vista Golf & Country Club in El Cerrito hosts the Northern California Championship. Getting there requires a top-four finish in the CCS regional, qualifying the team for the May 14 final at Ranch Canada, then placing at least third in that final.
Based on the way defending CCS champion St. Francis has played this season, anything short of a NorCal berth would have to be deemed a disappointment.
The Lancers won the WCAL crown with a 12-1-1 record and placed second in the ultra competitive De La Salle Tournament.
St. Francis shot an amazing 11-under par in a match against Mitty and boasts a nine-hole team average of 146.5 for the season.
The Lancers’ top six golfers typically shoot in the 70s for 18 holes, according to Ferriera.
Junior Kevin Lozares has been the team’s No. 1 player, with a nine-hole average of 35.5.
At last week’s league tourney in Half Moon Bay, freshman phenom Joseph Bramlett led all competitors with an 18-hole score of 73.
“He’s a very good player,” Ferriera said of Bramlett, limited to six league matches due to a back injury. “He’s a very straight hitter of the golf ball and keeps it in play all the time.”
Sophomore Alvin Lata, called up to varsity late last year, placed second overall with a 74.
“He’s played very solidly,” the coach said. “In the big competitions, he usually does well.”
The Lancers have also received solid performances from junior Mike Jensen, senior Chris Whalen and junior Brett Giurlani.
“It’s a good, hard-working group of guys,” Ferriera said.
