The Santa Barbara boys golf team took home its third straight CIF Central Coast Divisional title on Monday, but it could have easily been Buena wearing the crown.
The Dons carded an 11-over 371 at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande. Buena actually scored a 9-over 369 but took a two-stroke penalty after play had been completed when a Bulldogs player pointed out a self-implicating rules violation that occurred earlier in the day.
The penalty caused a tie-situation, so each teams’ sixth and supposed throw-away score became the tiebreaker and the Dons were victorious.
“Golf has a lot of silly rules but it’s a game of integrity,” noted Santa Barbara head coach James Bedard, commending the Bulldogs for the act of sportsmanship. “We were a beneficiary of that today.”
RESULTS: CIF CENTRAL COAST DIVISIONAL
Shane Lebow put the Dons in position to win the tiebreaker by posting a tournament-low 4-under. His round included three chip-ins and two 50-foot putts, one of which came on the 18th hole to save par.
“We didn’t know how important that putt would be until the very end,” said Bedard, commenting on how Monday’s outcome proves how much every stoke really does matter.
Jack Perry was also under par with a 71 and Ray Gerow scored a 74. Three Dons — Mason Field, John Baur and Mickey Kirby — finished with 79s. Any of those three could be considered the throw-out score, which beat Buena’s of 83.
Santa Barbara, Buena and Atascadero advance to Thursday’s CIF team final, which the Dons haven’t won since 1972. The top four teams from a field of 21 will move on to play in the SCGA finals on June 3.
Thursday’s event is being held locally at Rancho San Marcos. First group tees off at 8:30 a.m.
“The competition is going to be very tough,” asserted Bedard, noting how the field has been expanded to 21 teams this season. “It just makes it that much tougher.”
