Napa Valley College men's golf team turns in third-place finish at State Preview
Photo: The Napa Valley College men's golf team, from left, Ben Wilhite, Stephen Nefsky, Lawrence Pepito, Max Taylor, Tyler Momono, Miguel Chavez, Nick DeBellis.
Courtesy photo
By MARTY JAMES
Tyler Momono fired a 6-over-par 78 and the Napa Valley College men's golf team turned in a third-place finish at Monday's State Preview at Bayonet Golf Course, in Seaside (Monterey County).
Napa Valley shot a 406-team score.
There were seven teams, along with those playing as individuals, in the event.
Bayonet was set up as a par-72, 6,900-yard layout.
"It was playing tough," said Storm coach Bob Freschi. "It's just a hard course. It's hilly and it's windy."
Temperatures were in the 50s at the start for the State Preview. It was a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
"You need to be dialed in with your driver off the tee and then with your approach shots. Know your misses," said Freschi. "A lot of doglegs. Some tight fairways. The rough is thick. The bunkers are well designed."
The State Preview gave the Napa Valley team a chance to see and play Bayonet Golf Course, which will also host the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships, May 11-12.
"Just a great, great venue for the state championship," said Freschi. "I said, 'This is just a preview, so let's not get carried away with the result. Let's worry about the process. Take some really good notes and really get to know the course.'
"Only a couple of our guys have played it prior. It was good for us to go down there and play it. Once we get home, they have to input all their stats into our data program. And then once that happens, then we are closing this book, the chapter on Bayonet and focusing on conference play."
Momono had a good day, hitting his irons well.
"He had a good mindset. He played strong," said Freschi.
Lawrence Pepito and Max Taylor had 81's.
Stephen Nefsky had an 82.
Ben Wilhite had an 84 and Nick DeBellis had an 85.
Miguel Chavez, playing as an individual for NVC, had an 81.
"One guy in the 70's. We need more, obviously, and we'll get there. It was more just to get familiar with the course than anything else," said Freschi.
Reedley College won the State Preview, shooting a 383-team score.
The top-3 individual placers were from Reedley. Johan Bjorken was the individual low medalist with a 1-over-par 73. Eliot Vidal posted a 3-over-par 75. Tommy Evans carded a 4-over-par 76.
San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton was second with a 403-team score.
Also, in the field was Modesto Junior College, 409-team score; Fresno City College, 412-team score; San Jose City College, 443-team score; and Taft College.
Napa Valley is in first place in the Big 8 Conference North Division. The Storm plays in a conference tournament at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton on Wednesday at 12 p.m.
Napa Valley is also in the field for the NorCal Preview on April 7 at The Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links.
The CCCAA-Northern California Regional Championships are May 5-6 at Half Moon Bay Golf Links. The top-4 teams advance to state.
"We have full intentions of being back there (to Bayonet Golf Course) come the middle of May. But I told the team, once we get home, we're closing the chapter on Bayonet, and we're focusing on conference and winning conference, and then going to NorCals."
* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.