jchambers@oakdaleleader.com
The Riverbank Bruins varsity golf team is making its way through a challenging Trans-Valley League schedule, yet the squad is making gradual improvements with each day on the links.
The Bruins were unable to snag their first win of the young season, keeping the squad focused on making that first victory a reality, but the team was able to post a few good rounds on some of the league's most challenging courses.
Riverbank matched up with a talented Escalon program for a March 18 dual, but could do nothing to keep pace with the Cougars and dropped the TVL match 217-313. The two programs faced off at Oakdale Golf and Country Club's front nine.
The Bruins were led by Mike Wiesel and Nate Alpers who turned in scores of 48 and 51, respectively. Riverbank's Zach Vannest, George Manriquez and Andres Vargas came in behind them.
The Cougars, who have a single defeat on the entire season, flourished on the immaculate course, turning in five scores that were all less than 10 strokes over par. Escalon has made the O.G.C.C. its home digs and it clearly showed.
The two programs met up for action the following afternoon, only this time the squads took to La Contenta and its par-35 front nine.
Escalon did not lose its game over the 24 hour intermission, taking care of the Bruins 207-330 in their second meeting. Escalon improved on each of its five score cards, whereas the Bruins were only able to see Wiesel improve on his previous round. His round of 48 paced the Bruins, while Alpers (61), Manriquez (68), Jose Rodriguez (69) and Vannest (73) all had tougher times with the shorter La Contenta.
The Bruins made their most positive strides when they traveled to Ripon to take on the Ripon Christian Knights in their second league match.
The Knights welcomed Riverbank to Jack Tone Golf Course and handed the Bruins a 177-269 TVL defeat. The Bruins were once again paced by Wiesel who turned in a respectable round of 39 against Ripon Christian. The Knights were able to post five scores within nine strokes of the course's par-31 front nine, while the Bruins were only able to muster one scorecard of the sort.
Riverbank will look to tighten up its game as the squad prepares for a trip to River Oaks Golf Course to take on the Hughson Huskies, followed by a March 30 League Tournament at Spanos Park with an 11 a.m. tee-time.
The Riverbank Bruins varsity golf team is making its way through a challenging Trans-Valley League schedule, yet the squad is making gradual improvements with each day on the links.
The Bruins were unable to snag their first win of the young season, keeping the squad focused on making that first victory a reality, but the team was able to post a few good rounds on some of the league's most challenging courses.
Riverbank matched up with a talented Escalon program for a March 18 dual, but could do nothing to keep pace with the Cougars and dropped the TVL match 217-313. The two programs faced off at Oakdale Golf and Country Club's front nine.
The Bruins were led by Mike Wiesel and Nate Alpers who turned in scores of 48 and 51, respectively. Riverbank's Zach Vannest, George Manriquez and Andres Vargas came in behind them.
The Cougars, who have a single defeat on the entire season, flourished on the immaculate course, turning in five scores that were all less than 10 strokes over par. Escalon has made the O.G.C.C. its home digs and it clearly showed.
The two programs met up for action the following afternoon, only this time the squads took to La Contenta and its par-35 front nine.
Escalon did not lose its game over the 24 hour intermission, taking care of the Bruins 207-330 in their second meeting. Escalon improved on each of its five score cards, whereas the Bruins were only able to see Wiesel improve on his previous round. His round of 48 paced the Bruins, while Alpers (61), Manriquez (68), Jose Rodriguez (69) and Vannest (73) all had tougher times with the shorter La Contenta.
The Bruins made their most positive strides when they traveled to Ripon to take on the Ripon Christian Knights in their second league match.
The Knights welcomed Riverbank to Jack Tone Golf Course and handed the Bruins a 177-269 TVL defeat. The Bruins were once again paced by Wiesel who turned in a respectable round of 39 against Ripon Christian. The Knights were able to post five scores within nine strokes of the course's par-31 front nine, while the Bruins were only able to muster one scorecard of the sort.
Riverbank will look to tighten up its game as the squad prepares for a trip to River Oaks Golf Course to take on the Hughson Huskies, followed by a March 30 League Tournament at Spanos Park with an 11 a.m. tee-time.
