The562’s coverage of Long Beach golf is sponsored by Dan and Desiree Gooch.
As the Moore League schedule gets underway this month we’re taking time to preview the entire boys’ golf season with interesting stories all over the city.
WILSON
The Bruins have been the kings of the Moore League for the last 18 years running and look to win another league crown after two years of steady improvement. They narrowly missed the CIF Southern Section Division 1 postseason two years ago and missed advancing in Division 1 last year by three strokes.
“I expect the team to outperform last year because we have greater depth 1-6 this year,” Wilson coach Paul Henry said. “Two years ago, our best score for the team was 195, and last year it was 187 which we only achieved once. This preseason we’ve hit 187 twice. With the new ranking system that counts your six best scores, our goal is to remain in Division 1 and I believe this team is capable of that goal.”
Henry said that senior Dominic Macchia is the leader and most respected member of the squad. He is joined at the top of the leaderboard with sophomore Bodie Barnes, who is averaging a 1-under round this season. His brother, Bryson Barnes, won the league individual title last year and Bodie is on track to compete for the same this year.
“He went from the coaches’ group with a scoring average above +4 to qualifying for CIF Individuals last season and that was an amazing leap,” Henry said. “Nobody spends more time working on all aspects of his game than Bodie.”
Junior Jackson Case and seniors Owen White and Dominic Macchia are also key returners, while freshman Leo Case and junior transfer Daniel Miller are expected to be significant new contributors this season. Henry also said that David Jones has been key to setting a positive tone throughout the program.
Wilson boys’ golf opened Moore League play with a 191-217 victory over Lakewood at Skylinks Golf Course last Thursday. The Bruins were led by Barnes, Case and Dresden Underwood who all shot 1-over par on newly punched greens to share the honor as medalists.
MILLIKAN
The Rams are feeling great after collecting quality wins last year and seconding two players to the CIF individual completion. Now they have their sights set on knocking off Wilson and getting their whole team deep into the CIF postseason.
Millikan is off to a hot start in league play thanks to the leadership of four-year varsity starter Zach Wood.
“Wood has worked extremely hard in the offseason to prepare for his senior season,” Millikan coach Robert Tomlin said. “He has played in many tournaments and had great success as he hopes to compete at the next level after graduating.”
Sophomore Tyler Carmichael is also back as a key returner after contributing last year along with three-year varsity starter Jacob Binder and senior Alex Coakley.
Junior Daniel Anderson is a baseball player joining the team and he will be joined by fellow newcomers in junior Gabriel Romero and sophomore Matteo Montiel.
“Our most important matches this year are the two versus Wilson,” Tomlin said. “In the new CIF ranking system, wins and losses are not the key factor in determining where a team lands in CIF competition. It’s all about the team scores and the ratings of the courses that we play. However, the league wins and losses do make a difference in determining if a team qualifies for CIF competition. So, the matches against Wilson will be very important.”
Millikan is already 2-0 in Moore League play after a pair of notable victories last week.
On Tuesday, the Rams beat Lakewood 198-230 at El Dorado Golf Course to open league action. Millikan sophomore Tyler Carmichael led the Rams with a 2-over par 38 to take the medalist honor. Millikan seniors Zach Wood and Jacob Binder added a pair of 39’s in the win.
Talon Camarillo and Gabriel Campos were low for the Lancers with rounds of 43.
On Thursday, Millikan took care of Cabrillo 198-279 at El Dorado. Wood shot a 1-over 37 as the medalist while senior Alex Coakley carded a 39.
Diego Baires was low for Cabrillo with 54.
LONG BEACH POLY
The Jackrabbits ended last season on a high note by shooting their best score of the season in CIF competition. They hope to maintain that positive momentum this season behind the leadership of co-captains Wyatt Stanton and Max Ostlund, who is the top returner.
Ostlund shot his best round during the Moore League individual tournament last year, and his goal this season is to make the cut and finish in the top eight.
Eshaan Batra is one of the key Poly newcomers for a squad that can keep growing according to coach Bill Dodge.
“A successful season is one that shows growth amongst the players, in scoring average and maturity, allowing with kindling a fire for wanting to play golf,” Dodge said. “Happy players that have fun practicing and playing make it all worthwhile.”
Dodge thinks that the league matches against Lakewood are the most important for Poly to stay in the top half of the league standings.
“We have managed to stave them off for third place for quite some time,” Dodge said. “However, Lakewood coach McDaniel has been making great strides there the past few years and could supplant us this year.”
CABRILLO
The Jaguars are coming off one of their best seasons while Stanford bound Jonathan Ocampo leading the way. Now they need to lean on new captain junior Joe Gogue and other senior returners Javier Palomares, Luis Zuniga and Frank Osbourne-Russell. Gogue was a leader on defense for the football team and he’s not the only multi-sport athlete on the roster.
“Javier Palomares is one of the best athletes I’ve ever seen play on our soccer team, he makes his teammates better and is a natural leader,” Cabrillo coach Blake Dormand said. “He spent time over in Spain training during winter break with Real Madrid and Athletico Madrid development programs. I’m glad he enjoys playing golf and I’m excited to work with him during his final season.”
Sophomore Diego Baires is also back on the squad while newcomers freshman Joshua Gogue, junior Pedro Leon and junior Fabian Salcido will try to make key impacts.
“I want to keep the enthusiasm for golf and continue to find/utilize resources that help us grow and get better,” Dormand said. “The Century Club of Long Beach and Dan and Desiree Gooch have been such great partners for us with golf club donations and funding contributions. They are extremely supportive.
Lakewood
The Lancers are looking to break through at the Moore League individual tournament and get an individual into the CIF postseason.
St. Anthony
The Saints are looking to win a ninth consecutive Camino Real League championship this season with almost an entirely new roster.
Co-captains senior Captain Jake Swan and junior Captain Cruz Ortiz will be leading the way alongside other key returners are junior Kieran Bizzaro and senior Matt Forsting. Cruz Ortiz is coming off a second-team All-League season and his goal is to make the first team.
The big match for the Saints this year will be against St. Monica Prep.
