A week removed from having its streak of winning Western Athletic Conference overall championships snapped at three seasons, Ceres High’s varsity boys golf team took its frustration out against the competition in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.

The Bulldogs made program history by claiming their first section title—the Division-IV banner—on May 6 at Elkhorn Golf Club in Stockton.

“It’s pretty special,” coach Brandon Dunn said. “It’s the first time it’s happened in boys golf. The kids are pretty excited.”

“Not winning league put a chip on our shoulder,” senior standout Gary Condit said. “We knew we were the best. We wanted to send a message.”

The Bulldogs posted a team score of 513.

Ceres High topped runner-up Los Banos (531) by 18 strokes.

Los Banos and Ceres High placed first and third, respectively, at the WAC Year-End Tournament. Johansen, the conference’s overall champion, shot a 583 at Divisionals.

“Once they put the score up, we let out a pretty good roar,” Condit said. “It’s a surreal moment I’ll never forget. A blue banner is better than winning a league title. It’s a big deal. I’m ecstatic we were able to pull it off. To win it in front of Johansen and Los Banos made it sweeter.”

Condit and fellow fourth-year varsity golfer Jayden Panyanouvong carded identical scores of 84 on their way to placing second and third, respectively, at Divisionals.

Condit earned runner-up honors based on tiebreaker criteria.

Bulldog teammates Visanoukone Homsombath, Dylan Grubeck and Hayden Swanson shot 107, 113, 125, respectively.

“I didn’t play well,” Condit said. “My teammates really stepped up.”

Condit had the blue banner in his possession while sitting in the passenger seat during the van ride home from Stockton.

“I tried to get him (coach Dunn) to let me take it home so I could parade it around school the next day,” Condit said.

Members of Ceres High’s varsity boys golf team since the ninth grade, Condit and Panyanouvong helped lead the Bulldogs to new heights.

Ceres High annexed one section championship, captured three WAC overall titles and participated in the playoffs four times.

“That’s been our ultimate goal,” Condit said. “It finally happened. This banner doesn’t just represent the 2018-19 season. It represents the last five teams. The coaches (Dunn, John Bussard, Scott Smith, Abel Maestas and Dave Fry) deserve a lot of the credit.”

Condit, Panyanouvong, Homsombath, Grubeck, Swanson and Ramon Rodriguez will represent Ceres High at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament this week at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton.

“The whole team gets to go,” Condit said.