Aragon boys’ golf third in league

“It was such a big moment when we won the match against Menlo-Atherton. It really gave the team a boost of confidence,” said senior Joshua Chan.

Winning the match against Menlo-Atherton was a big deal for Aragon’s boys golf team because Menlo-Atherton is ranked second in the league and Aragon is behind them in third place. Aragon Boys Golf Coach Guy Oling said, “I was so proud of the way they played and came together that day.”

The boys golf team has won 14 games and lost four. At their most recent match on Thursday, April 14, against Carlmont, the Aragon team lost. Until the championships, when teams play 18-hole matches, the matches are 9-holes long.

Senior Amol Mahal shot a 36, or par, at Thursday’s match. Junior Jeremy Hardy shot a 44, the second best score for Aragon. Chan scored a 45, the third best score for Aragon.

In addition to currently being in third place and having a very high chance of advancing to Central Coast Section (CCS) as a team, Aragon players have a chance in sending individuals to compete. Oling said, “Amol is one of the best, if not the best, golfers in the league.”

Mahal has gone to every CCS since his freshman year and will most likely compete again this year. Mahal said, “I hope to go to Norcals, which is the next level after CCS.”

A normal match is played with 12 players total, six from each of the two schools. Each school pairs off their players, based on skill determined by their coaches. Each pair is matched up against a pair from the opposing team. Within each of the three groups of four, every player scores another player from the other school and vice versa.

At the end of the match, the top five scores from each school are added together, the sixth and highest score is dropped from each team’s total, and the school with the lowest score wins the match.

Overall as a team, Oling said, “Their scores have dropped dramatically this year.”

Aragon’s practices have the same general set up as a game; they play nine-holes during a practice. They practice for two and a half hours or more every practice. Oling says, “They work on course strategy. It is very rigorous.” The practices take place at Poplar Creek Golf Course and Mariners Point Golf Center.

Carlmont, currently in first place, has yet to be defeated this season. Aragon defeated Menlo-Atherton on their March 14 match, but lost in their match against them on March 29.

Oling has been the coach of the Boys Golf Team since 1998. He said, “We have a team that is more experienced and dedicated… and they have truly stepped it up a level.”

Although the team is very focused and driven, it does not prevent the occasional slip up. Hardy laughs while remembering, “Josh had to borrow golf pants from Mr. Oling for a match when he forgot to bring his own.”

The team has not experienced any major changes in their dynamics this year because the members of the team have stayed the same. Chan says, “Even though we are losing a good number of seniors this year, I think the team will still rank very well. Everyone has improved so much over the past few years.”

Chan said, “We are bonded and support each other when we play.”

Chan’s favorite golf club is the seven iron, Chan said, “I can always hit far and straight with it.” The golf players may have up to 14 different golf clubs in their bags at one time. The boys own their own clubs, but the team’s boosters pay the green fees and for the golf balls.

One of the perks of being on the team is being able to play on all of the nice golf courses, without paying the sometimes exorbitant fees to belong to a county club.

Oling said, “They have the opportunity to play at some great country clubs. The fees can be extremely high.”

Mahal seconded the notion, “We play courses that we would not normally have access to.”

Hardy said, “We have a big match against Burlingame’s team soon and I hope we can beat them.” Mahal said that, “I think that we can finish in second place; these last games will determine how we finish.”

Hardy, who was the Bowditch golf team captain all three years of middle school, said, “The season has been going great because we have not lost seniors on the team from last year, and so we all know how each other play… the familiarity is great.”

Oling said, “The team has great camaraderie and they truly respect the sport.”