The varsity boys’ golf team did not produce the results it had hoped for at the League Tourney on April 31.  However, the team showed resilience, placing 2nd and advancing to the NCS tournament.

Coaches Bob Latham and Steve Robinson had high hopes for their players and expected success against rival schools Miramonte, Acalanes, and Alhambra. Latham admitted, “We didn’t do as well as we hoped in the 9-hole matches throughout the year.”

Golfer Jim Coon cited overconfidence as a contributing factor: “We thought we’d win automatically.” Although the final regular season standings left the team behind Miramonte and Acalanes, the DFAL tournament, marked by an unusual “shotgun start,” propelled Campo ahead of their competitors.

After DFAL tourney, the team moved to the NCS Qualifiers, in which 18 teams competed for only 9 slots. Campo placed 7th.

A week later, the varsity team placed 6th of 21 in NCS.  Coon said, “We got to NCS because we all wanted it really bad.We knew there were good teams at the tournament, so it helped us play better.”

Although Campo did not move on to the NorCal Championships, the team was only 12 shots away from qualifying; Campolindo has never participated in NorCals.

The team is optimistic about next year, and is ready to make up for all the “missed potential” of 2012. Latham said, “All of our players will be coming back next year. We’ll come back significantly stronger, and we should have some solid improvement.”

Sophomore Manny Manzone claimed that experience will bolster next year’s results: “This was only my first year. Coach Bob really influenced me to play better.”

Latham received more positive comments from Coon: “He gives really good pep talks. Bob’s a big inspiration.”