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Golfers eighth at sub-sections
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The Ceres High boys golf team wrapped up the 2004 with an eighth-place finish at the Sac-Joaquin South Sub-Section tournament at Dry Creek Golf Course in Gilroy on Tuesday, May 11.

"We just didn't play good as a team but we were happy to make it that far," said Ceres coach Butch Mendonca.

The top four teams and six individuals not on those teams advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section tournament.

Lodi won the team title with a 13-over-par 373. St. Mary's placed second at 24-over 384. Beyer and Tokay tied for third with 34-over 394s. Lodi, St. Mary's and Tokay had league tournaments at Dry Creek the week before.

Ceres finished with a 56-over 416.

Lodi beat Ceres by 43 strokes.

"Golf is a year-round sport," Mendonca said. "You can't play it seasonal if you want to compete with teams like that.

"Their high scores are what are low guys are shooting."

Ben Martinez almost advanced. The senior shot 39 on both the front and back nine for a 6-over 78 total. He would have forced a playoff with Johansen's Chris Mason and Michael Merritt and Buhach's Cody Wilson if he shot a 77. Mason earned the final section berth.

Juniors Jeff Warn, Nick Wilcox and Chad Jantz shot 79, 81 and 85, respectively.

Warn missed forcing a playoff by two strokes. He carded a 42 on the front nine and capped off the day with an impressive 37 on the back nine.

Wilcox shot a 41 on the front nine and 40 on the back nine.

"Nick didn't play as good as he should," Mendonca said.

Jantz shot a 42 on the front nine and 43 on the back nine.

Adam Dusi shot a 93. The senior shot a 46 on the front nine and 47 on the back nine.

Conference awards

Three of Ceres High's players earned all-league honors.

Wilcox earned first-team, all-CCC honors for the third year in a row. He could vie for the league's Most Valuable Player award next season.

"He's going to have to work on his game and get more consistent to become MVP," Mendonca said. "He's capable."

Martinez was a second-team, all-CCC selection. He missed first team by 300th of a stroke.

"Ben had a good year," Mendonca said. "He did much better than I expected."

Warn was a third-team, all-league selection.

2004-2005 outlook

The Bulldogs finished in a two-way tie for fourth in the CCC standings with Merced this season. Ceres should do even better next year as four starters are expected to return, including Wilcox, Warn, Jantz and Bobby Macfarlane.

"Us, Beyer and Johansen should be considered the three top teams starting off," Mendonca said. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier