Falcon golfers qualify for state tournament with second place finish in NorCal championship

The Folsom Lake College men's golf team has checked off two important goals and can now focus on a third: after winning the Big 8 Conference title two weeks ago (check) and finishing second in Monday's NorCal Regional Championship (check), the Falcons will now have an opportunity to vie for a team trophy at the State Championship tournament (check??).  The 36-hole format for Monday's tournament at Spanos Reserve in Stockton was a test of endurance, as players played a round of 18 holes in the morning and another round of 18 in the afternoon.  After 12 hours of golf, Chabot College emerged as the NorCal team champion with a score of 753, while the Falcons surged in the afternoon round to capture second with a 777, one stroke ahead of third-place Reedley.  The Falcons sat in a tie for third at 391 after the morning round, with a logjam of contending teams right behind.  As the afternoon scores trickled in, it became apparent the long day was taking its toll on many of the golfers, as a majority carded higher scores in the afternoon.  That was not the case for FLC's Mason Troike and Chris McKnight, who both shot 77 in the morning but came in with 73 and 72, respectively in the afternoon.  Freshman Austin Bennett also stepped up after shooting a morning 91, recording a solid 80 in the afternoon.    Knowing that the top four teams advance to the state tournament, Falcons' coach Barry Zarecky was all over the course in the afternoon, advising and encouraging his players.  The tactic paid off as the Falcons were one of the few teams to improve upon their morning total.  Their second place is the highest FLC finish in the program's history at the NorCal Regional.

                Team Scores      am          pm         total                           FLC Individuals

                Chabot                 372         381         753                        Mason Troike                    77 / 72 = 149

                Folsom Lake       391         386      777                        Chris McKnight                  77 / 73 = 150

                Reedley               384         394         778                         Chad VanderDussen       74 / 81 = 155

                Modesto             397         385         782                          Connor Gaymon                               77 / 80 = 157

                Sierra                    396         387      783                          Connor Scott                      86 / 84 = 170

                Santa Rosa          393         392         785                         Austin Bennett                 91 / 80 = 171

                Fresno                  391         396         787

                San Jose               399         396         795