Alysabeth Marquez joined rare company this fall by becoming just the second girls golfer from Ceres High School to earn league Most Valuable Player honors for the second time.
The junior followed in the footsteps of 2015 CHS grad Caitlin Pfaff, who was named Western Athletic Conference MVP her junior and sophomore years.
Marquez was the top player in the WAC this season and WAC South Division as a sophomore.
“I’m really grateful,” she said. “My family is very proud of me. In my mind, it’s not that big of a deal.”
“I expect a lot out of her,” Bulldogs’ head coach Ron Edwards said. “I know she can be better than she is now. I think she can go and play at a four-year college.”
Marquez compiled a 13-1 record versus WAC cluster competition this season.
She shot a 27-over-par 98 while finishing third overall at the conference tournament on Oct. 19 at Manteca Park.
Marquez earned her first-ever berth to the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament.
She carded a 26-over-par 98 at the Reserve at Spanos Park on Nov. 1 in Stockton.
Marquez qualified for Masters after posting the fifth-best individual score at the Division-IV Championships on Oct. 25 at Stockton’s Swenson Park Golf Course. She fired a 28-over-par 100.
“I’m really happy with how the season turned out,” Marquez said. “I have a lot of room for growth. Everything needs work. There’s no end for getting better. I’m hoping over this offseason I can shoot into the low-80s and get looked at by some colleges.”
Marquez has established herself as one of Ceres High’s greatest female golfers.
She was named co-Most Valuable Player of the WAC South Division sophomore year. She compiled a 5-1 record as the Bulldogs tied for first place in the conference standings with Pacheco. The CIF Sac-Joaquin Section canceled playoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pfaff helped lead Ceres High to a 41-7 overall record, one WAC championship and four Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berths.
Marquez wanted to play girls golf for the Bulldogs her freshman year. But Ceres High didn’t field a team due to a late coaching departure and a lack of interest. She ended up playing in several matches for the boys team before the season was cut short because of COVID-19.
“Her strengths are her putting and short game,” Edwards said. “She drives the ball very well. If she puts the work in, she can knock off at least 15 strokes off her scores on the regular par-72 courses. She can do better.”
“I’m very blessed to be where I’m at,” Marquez said. “Leaving my mark is something that’s really cool. But it’s not my top priority. My top priority is my relationship with God. He’s the most important aspect of my life.”