Warriors win boys golf league opener

Fallbrook High School's boys golf team hosted San Pasqual High School at the Pala Mesa course March 23 to open Valley League play and prevailed by a 214-247 margin.

"That was our best score of the year, so that was a good win," said Fallbrook coach Steve Jorde.

The result gave Fallbrook an overall record of 4-5. Six golfers from each school compete in a high school match, and the team score is derived by adding the five lowest scores while discarding the high score.

Oceanside High School did not have the minimum five golfers so the Warriors won by forfeit for both the match at Pala Mesa in which Fallbrook had a team score of 222 and the Oceanside Municipal Golf Course competition where Fallbrook's best five scores added to 224.

Dual meets utilize nine-hole rounds. Fallbrook's other victory was by a 239-292 margin when the Warriors hosted Mount Carmel. Fallbrook lost home and away contests to La Costa Canyon, lost to El Camino both at home and on the Wildcats' course, and lost on the road to Rancho Buena Vista.

The scores against Oceanside were Fallbrook's lowest prior to the 214 in the league opener. "We're just improving as we go. I think we have the potential to be a team that could be around 200. That's kind of our goal," Jorde said.

Four of last year's varsity golfers return to the team: senior Jake Guy, juniors Sebbi Winfield and Daniel Milton, and sophomore Keller Hagen.

The Warriors had three seniors in 2016. New to the varsity this year are senior Jake McCaffrey and freshmen Blake Freeman and

Henry Koepcke.

Winfield had the low score of 39 against San Pasqual. Guy and Freeman took 41 shots apiece. Milton completed his nine holes in 45 strokes. Hagen required 48 drives and putts. McCaffrey had a score of 49.

"It was a good day for everybody," Jorde said.

Fallbrook won the Valley League championship both in 2015 and in 2016. "We're trying to keep that string going," Jorde said.