NHS golfers finish 5th in CIF match, VPS ninth
by Misty Volaski

The Nordhoff High School golf team finished in fifth place out of 20 teams that advanced to the CIF playoffs in a tournament held last week at Soule Park Golf Course.
The Rangers shot a team score of 387, paced by junior Mike Bensley who shot an even par 72. Other notable rounds included Andrew Bonsignori and Alex Dwire, each posting 77s, Tyler Brown, who shot a 78 and Nathan VanEtten who had an 83.
Brentwood Academy won the tournament with a team score of 374. By finishing in fifth place in the CIF tournament, the Rangers concluded their third best finish in school history.
Final results of the CIF Northern Team Divisional Championship at Soule Park Golf Course, Par 72:
1. Brentwood
2. Valencia
3. Harvard-Westlake
4. Campbell Hall
5. Nordhoff
6. Hart
7. Highland
8. Calabasas
9. St. Francis
10. Bishop Diego

Villanova traveled to Cypress Ridge for the Central Coast Divisional Team Playoffs, known to be the toughest draw in the Southern Section.
There are no divisions in CIF for golf, so Villanova (a Division V school) was placed with mostly larger schools. Villanova was the only team of the top 17 finishers to come from a school of under 1,000 students.
The Wildcats were one of only five teams to have at least four players shoot in the 70s (others were Dos Pueblos, San Marcos, Thousand Oaks and Westlake). Ryan Kirby had the 21st best score in the field of 114 players with a five-over-par 77. San Marcos and Westlake were the two schools that advanced to the CIF Team Finals (only two from each region may qualify). VPS was eight strokes away from placing third in the competition.
Coach Brian Grisin was proud of his team, saying, "The guys took advantage of opportunities and made very few mistakes.  The team was satisfied with their play and, although we didn't advance, we're proud of the fact that we were able to compete with the 'big boys' and place in the top 10. It is an outstanding accomp-lishment to place ninth in a competition on an unfamiliar course against the top teams in the tri-counties."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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