It's not often that a golf team loses a player to injury, but Riverbank High's girls golf team will play without No. 2 linkster Cassandra Gilbert for the remainder of the season after she broke her leg during a travel softball tournament last week.
Gilbert played a key role in Riverbank's 4-1 start to the Valley Foothill League North season, but missed action in three contests last week that lowered Riverbank's position in the conference standings.
"Losing Cassandra hurt the team," Riverbank coach John Bartlett said. "She is a really good girl to have around and she is always positive."
The squad was fifth of seven teams at the VFL mid-league tournament Monday on 18 holes at the Micke Grove Golf Links and dropped two close matches to conference foes later in the week.
But recent team losses have done little to deter strong efforts from Bruin golfers, and Riverbank ace Courtney Floyd is still among the best golfers in the league.
Floyd has nabbed medalist honors in five VFL matches this season and is currently deadlocked with Emaline Ellsworth of Bret Harte in the hunt for league MVP honors. She was fourth at the mid-league tournament and is in prime condition to deliver a fine postseason performance in her final year on the prep links.
"Individually, I really want to make it to Masters this year," Floyd said. "I improved a lot since last year and I can make it if I shoot well at the end of the season."
Floyd was 22 strokes short of a Masters qualification a season ago, but has made big strides to emerge as of the area's best golfers in 2011.
She shot a 40 at Lockeford Springs to nab the best score during a 208-223 loss to host Linden on Sept. 20. Gabby Macedo followed with a 59 while Emily Blevins (61) and Tori Sandoval (63) also turned in scores.
Floyd landed a two-over par 33 at the Escalon Golf Course during a 154-161 loss to Bret Harte on Thursday. Macedo (41), Blevins (43) and Sandoval (44) delivered quality scores as well.
"We shot a really good round for our team, but Bret Harte came down and shot even better," Bartlett said. "We were tied until the last group came in. Sometimes you play your best and you still get beat."
Riverbank played in the Yellowjacket Invitational at Stevenson Ranch on Monday, though results were not available at press time. The team was home against Escalon on Tuesday and is at the Jack Tone Golf Course on Thursday to face Ripon Christian.
Gilbert played a key role in Riverbank's 4-1 start to the Valley Foothill League North season, but missed action in three contests last week that lowered Riverbank's position in the conference standings.
"Losing Cassandra hurt the team," Riverbank coach John Bartlett said. "She is a really good girl to have around and she is always positive."
The squad was fifth of seven teams at the VFL mid-league tournament Monday on 18 holes at the Micke Grove Golf Links and dropped two close matches to conference foes later in the week.
But recent team losses have done little to deter strong efforts from Bruin golfers, and Riverbank ace Courtney Floyd is still among the best golfers in the league.
Floyd has nabbed medalist honors in five VFL matches this season and is currently deadlocked with Emaline Ellsworth of Bret Harte in the hunt for league MVP honors. She was fourth at the mid-league tournament and is in prime condition to deliver a fine postseason performance in her final year on the prep links.
"Individually, I really want to make it to Masters this year," Floyd said. "I improved a lot since last year and I can make it if I shoot well at the end of the season."
Floyd was 22 strokes short of a Masters qualification a season ago, but has made big strides to emerge as of the area's best golfers in 2011.
She shot a 40 at Lockeford Springs to nab the best score during a 208-223 loss to host Linden on Sept. 20. Gabby Macedo followed with a 59 while Emily Blevins (61) and Tori Sandoval (63) also turned in scores.
Floyd landed a two-over par 33 at the Escalon Golf Course during a 154-161 loss to Bret Harte on Thursday. Macedo (41), Blevins (43) and Sandoval (44) delivered quality scores as well.
"We shot a really good round for our team, but Bret Harte came down and shot even better," Bartlett said. "We were tied until the last group came in. Sometimes you play your best and you still get beat."
Riverbank played in the Yellowjacket Invitational at Stevenson Ranch on Monday, though results were not available at press time. The team was home against Escalon on Tuesday and is at the Jack Tone Golf Course on Thursday to face Ripon Christian.
