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Tournament time
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Ceres' James Cervantez attended both sessions of the River Oaks Junior Golf Program this summer. The Adkinson Elementary fifth-grader was among the 60-plus participants that competed in the club's end-of-year tournament on Friday, Aug. 7.

"He wanted to learn how to play golf so he could do it with his dad and grandpas," said Kim Cervantez, James' mother.

Cervantez tied for 21st place in the 10-to-13-year-old age group with a 58 on the par-27 front nine course.

Joshi Chinmay, Derek Breshears and Parker Stewart finished first, second and third, respectively. They carded identical scores of 34.

Michael Herrera (37), Chris Cordrey (38), Stefan Word (40), Brannon Bauman (41), Garrett Ingle (41), Brent Winstrom (42), Jacob Sammuli (42), Dylan Cummings (43), Joshua Lesan (44), Josh Adams (45), Nathan Adams (47), Carter Nelson (47), Alan Fisher (48), Mason Donabedian (49), Jack Vinson (51), Jared Bernardi (52), Chase Stinhilver (52), Matthew Bomgardner (53), Cayden Farquer (53), Marcus Erickson (54), Aaron Allen (55), Sydney Chiesa (56), Nathan Larsson (58), Ciara Chiesa (60), Sammy Blackwell (62) and Jaiden Magana (73) made up the rest of the 31-person field.

Matt Macedo captured the 14-to-17-year-old age title with a 4-over-par 34 on the back nine course.

Dylan Delhart (35) and Mark Cordrey (38) took second and third, respectively.

Will Hinrichs (38), Zach Cooper (38), Charles Fields (40), Zach Vannest (51), Brigette Burgess (66) and Caleb Sawyer (78) also participated.

Caleigh Martella fired a 1-over-par 26 on the front nine course en route to a first-place finish in the 7-to-9-year-old flight.

Austin Pena (27) and Jake Nevarez (29) rounded out the top three.

Thomas Carrillo Jr. (31), William Deoliveira (32), Lucas Hamilton (33), Adam Baluyot (35), Dakota Estabrook (35), Rylen Magana (36), Lauren Gary (37), Cooper Ulrich (37), Jacob Nunes (37), Ryan Nunes (38), Hannah Davis (38), Dylan Bernardi (38), Raenn Davis (39), Kaley Davis, (39), Jaden Brazil (39), Gracie Alves (40), Estaban Ibarra (40) and Madilynn Van Mater (45) competed as well.

Cervantez will continue to play golf at River Oaks.

"I tried it and liked it a lot, so I want to keep doing it," James said. "It's a lot of fun."

Rob Phipps came up with the idea to establish a junior golf program in Ceres 16 years ago. He passed away unexpectedly at the age of 44 in December of 2007.

"This is one of the best things Rob did here, said Michael Phipps, who's filled in as the club's general manager since the death of his younger brother. "He initiated it. We're looking to expand it even more next year. My goal is to have a couple hundred kids in each session."