It's on to the state men's golf finals for Napa Valley College's DeBellis, Pepito
First photo: Lawrence Pepito is shown for the Napa Valley College men's golf team during the spring season.
Photos by Marty James
By MARTY JAMES
The more and more that Nick DeBellis plays Bayonet Golf Course, the more that he falls in love with the par-72, 6,940-yard layout on the Monterey Peninsula.
DeBellis, a sophomore at Napa Valley College, has a comfortability and confidence to his game when he is playing the course. He is able to relax and enjoy the day and the surroundings as he goes about his business of hitting different shots and taking on all the challenges that the course presents.
"I love the course; it's so pretty," said DeBellis. "It's so hard because of how great it is. There's a lot of holes out there where I just feel confident.
"This golf course, everything is in front of you. But it's so pure and so true that it can be really difficult if you put the ball in the wrong spot.
"It's one of the hardest courses I've played. And so definitely having that knowledge of being out there before, having played the course a handful of times, if you put yourself in the right position out there, it's pretty fun. And those greens are so pure. I just told myself, go middle of the green out there and make your putts."
DeBellis will return to Bayonet Golf Course in Seaside (Monterey County) later this week, as he will play there as an individual qualifier, representing Napa Valley College men's golf one final time. He and his Storm teammate, Lawrence Pepito, also a sophomore, are in the field for the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships, a two-day, 36-hole season-ending tournament, starting on Sunday, May 11 and finishing on Monday, May 12.
"I'm excited," said DeBellis. "Lawrence and I earned our way to get down there. It almost feels like a reward to be able to play two rounds at a beautiful place and just being able to enjoy that.
"I don't know if college golf will ever be in my future again. So, just enjoying these last couple of rounds of competitive golf, it's going to be awesome.
"I'm hitting the ball so well. I feel really good. If my driver's feeling confident, I think I can beat anyone. My wedges feel good. My putter feels good. All I've got to do is put myself in the fairway, and you'll have a lot of wedges out there.
"The course seems long, but not when you hit the driver good. If you're able to put yourself in the fairway, you're going to have a lot of wedges."
DeBellis and Pepito advanced as individual qualifiers from the CCCAA-Northern California Regional, played May 5-6, at The Old Course, at Half Moon Bay Golf Links.
DeBellis was the Storm's low scorer, shooting 75-81 – 156.
Pepito was next, shooting 77-82 – 159.
Napa Valley tied with Modesto Junior College for fourth place in the team scoring. But the Storm did not advance due to a card-off tiebreaker that was used, with Modesto advancing as the fourth team.
Napa Valley shot 400-406 – 806, in the two-day, 36-hole event.
Modesto shot 400-406 – 806.
The top-4 teams and six individuals not from those teams advance to the CCCAA State Championships.
"It was bittersweet. You tie a team, and then all of a sudden you start thinking about one shot here, one shot there. It's hard not to do that, but it's golf, and that happens," said DeBellis.
It's been a very good season for Napa Valley, which won its second straight Big 8 Conference North Division championship and was the winner of six tournaments during the regular season.
"We didn't make states (as a team), but the things that we did during the regular season, I think we should really be proud of it," said Pepito.
"I really wish my team was there. But to represent Napa one more time, I really hope that we can make up for it, especially for Nick and I being there. I'm excited, representing Napa."
The field for the state championships is led by Reedley College, which won the CCCAA-Northern California Regional at Half Moon Bay Golf Links, shooting 381-390 – 771, and College of the Canyons-Santa Clarita, which won the CCCAA-Southern California Regional, shooting 357-362 – 719 at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills.
Also advancing to state from Southern California is Santa Barbara City College, College of the Desert-Palm Desert, Orange Coast College-Costa Mesa and Ventura College.
Also advancing to state from Northern California is San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton, Sierra College-Rocklin and Modesto.
Play begins at 8:30 a.m. each day with tee times. Play will be from the Black tee markers, except for holes 4, 6, 8, 9, 13 and 17, which will use the Blue tee markers, according to the California Community College Athletic Association, at www.cccaasports.org.
Individually at NorCals, DeBellis tied for eighth place, shooting 75-81 – 156, and Pepito tied for 13th place, shooting 77-82 – 159.
"Nick had a fabulous season. He really just developed this past year. He got a lot stronger and it showed on the course," said Storm coach Bob Freschi. "He has a very good mindset. He's a clutch player. He's just been a joy the last two years."
DeBellis, Stephen Nefsky and Ben Wilhite were each named to the All-Big 8 Conference North Division team for Napa Valley.
Pepito suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last year and had surgery April 19, 2024 at Kaiser Permanente Fremont Medical Center. He was in the Storm's lineup as a freshman, playing in dual matches and tournaments.
He remained as close as he could to the NVC program and was medically cleared by his doctor, Dr. Gannon Kennedy, on Jan. 22.
"Lawrence is just a talented young man," said Freschi. "What he's been through the last year with his torn ACL, for him to come back and qualify for the states is a testament to his work ethic and his mindset of just enjoying the game and being grateful to be playing."
This weekend, DeBellis and Pepito will be playing Bayonet Golf Course.
Bayonet, according to its website, www.bayonetblackhorse.com, "with its narrow playing corridors and steep, penal bunkering, has long been considered the most difficult test of golf on the Monterey Peninsula. The par-72, 7,104-yard course is famous for playability and strategic options."
Napa Valley played at the State Preview earlier in the season at Bayonet Golf Course. The Storm finished third, shooting a 406-team score. Pepito had an 81 and DeBellis had an 85.
"I know the course and I really like the course. It's a really tough course," said Pepito. "The Bayonet Course really fits me and fits my game.
"I'm working on my swing. I know I can do better. Hopefully, I can do better when we have states at Bayonet. My game plan is just to stay calm. My team isn't there, so I want to represent Napa one more time."
Pepito played in a U.S. Open 18-hole local qualifying event on Thursday, May 8, firing a 3-under-par 69 at Kings Country Club in Hanford and finishing tied for fifth place. He did not advance.
"I do feel like this year's (U.S.) Open qualifier can really help me, especially going to states," said Pepito. "It puts you in a great mindset, knowing that you're playing with really good golfers and it forces you to also hit good shots.
"It's just putting everything in one piece and knowing and having the confidence to do it."
* 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.