Freshman leads Chico to EALN golf title

Freshman leads Chico to EALN golf title

Highlighting the Panthers was freshman Tyler Collier, who after carding a 78, finished with a season total of 290 to win the individual crown. "As the season went on I started playing better and started feeling better about myself," said Collier, who was masterful on the final nine holes, where he shot a 35. "I really didn't think about the pressure. I just played my game and didn't let it get into my head. On the back nine today I was making a lot more putts that I usually don't make. On the front nine I wasn't making putts or hitting fairways. Watson Talk About Tiger’s Swing I fixed my driver a little bit too and tried not to hook it so much. I was just trying to hit it so far and it wasn't working out obviously. On the back nine I just tried to hit the fairway." After securing the league championship, Chico coach Kevin Wisdom had high praise for his team, which boasted the top three individuals in Collier, Kurt Kitayama (301) and Sean McGowen (308). "I'm really, really proud of them," Kitayama, who has committed to play for the UNLV golf team next year, recorded the low score on the day with a 73. He also played a crucial role in earning the league crown as he delivered a 36 on the last nine holes. Helping to seal the deal for Chico was Taylor Manna's 79 and Josh Martin's 39 on the back nine. Martin's score was a personal season best. "We lost the front nine to a really good PV team. Our hats go off to them," Wisdom said. "Dave Crawford is a great coach and he's done a really good job with them. We were fortunate enough to have a few rolls go our way on the back nine. It could've easily have been PV that won league." All-league went to the six golfers who produced the lowest season totals. In order, those golfers were Collier, Kitayama, McGowen, Andy Lazos (PV), Cole Chavez (PV) and Nick Schwabauer (Shasta). Honorable mentions included Pleasant Valley's Justin Chambers and Brady Stilwell, Shasta's Johnny Catrucco and Manna. Enterprise's Sean Greenhood and Taylor Greenhood rounded out the list. While the league championship eluded the Vikings, Crawford was still pleased with his team's overall performance. "Today, that's a solid score," he said. "We're happy with the score. We just got beat on the back nine by a team that played better. I'm not disappointed by the score that they shot. Of course we wanted to win and second place doesn't feel so good. But we got beat. We didn't hand it to them." Crawford focus now is on the Northern Section Division I Finals, which take place next week at Tuscan Ridge Golf Club.