Agostini on Golf: Warriors' success shouldn't surprise

By Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

E-Mail

Comments (0)

Text Size:

tool goes here

It's not exactly jaw-dropping news when the Cal State Stanislaus golf team advances to another NCAA Division II Golf Championship.

Success is mainlined into Warrior golf's DNA. This is a program that has won 12 Division III titles and, since 1990, placed nine times in the top 10 of Division II.

But getting to the nationals this year — next week at Loomis Trail north of Seattle — took some doing.

"To make it this year," junior Danny Hoff said, "is pretty exciting."

The Warriors started the season last September at Loomis Trail for the National Championship Preview and, out of 18 teams, finished 17th.

"We met each other the week before, jumped on the plane and played," first-year coach John Cook said. "We were strangers."

To many observers' surprise, the Warriors return to Loomis Trail next week. They fielded their youngest team in years, broke in a new coach and performed most of the season like the nationals were a fantasy.

"We started out rough," said Hoff, the team's elder statesman as a junior. "It seemed like we were a step behind everyone else."

They've caught up, for sure, and improved as a unit. Unlike last year's team which featured All-American Erick Justesen and four seniors, there is no star on the 2009 Warriors. All five averaged between 74.4 and 75.7 strokes per round.

Then there is Cook, the ex-Warrior and satellite-tour pro asked to replace an icon in Jim Hanny, the university's first coach and the man who annexed all those NCAA plaques on display at Warrior Arena.

Cook retained some of the Hanny staples, such as the 10-round preseason qualifier. He also added a few of his own, such as the 6:30 a.m. workouts three days a week.

"I actually gave them the week off from workouts so they can catch up a little bit with school before next week," Cook said. "Being in shape is now a part of golf. It's not a casual thing anymore. Coach Hanny and I both encourage people to play a lot of golf as opposed to spending a lot of time on the range. I agree with that."

How much golf-cred has Cook accrued with his team, you ask? Try this: Cook overcame wind at Ruby Hill CC for a 69 on Monday and advanced to Section Qualifying for the U.S. Open. It will be his fourth trip to the Sectional.

"I think they respect me," he said.

"Coach Cook had big shoes to fill, but he turned us around and got us playing as a team," Hoff said. "He always tells us how the other guys are doing. If the others are struggling, we try to pick them up. We are a true team."

Hoff's first sport was football. Specifically, he was a quarterback at Bakersfield's Stockdale High and at Bakersfield Community College. After his career ended due to a concussion, he transferred all his football energy to golf. His way-down-there tee shots stand as testimony to a player who sped from recreational golfer to serious collegiate competitor.

"I've learned this year how to calm my game down," he said.

Hoff and freshmen Teddy Schrier (Buhach Colony High) and Trevor Blair (Colfax) broke in slowly with Bryan Kiss and Jonathan Cockerill. The Warriors found momentum in April, however, when they placed fifth vs. a Division I field at the Colorado Invitational at Stevinson Ranch and, a week later, by winning their own Hanny Invitational.

From there, Stanislaus finished second at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship and, last week, took an impressive second at the Division II West/Central Super Regionals. Hoff tied for second individually at 2-under 211, and Kiss jumped from 19th to eighth with a final round 68.

"We finally realized we weren't that bad," Cook said. "I think we've grown together as a team. They are ready for a little redemption next week."

THE SHAG BAG — The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing Tuesday night regarding the proposed new golf practice center in Turlock. Local residents who are against its construction will be balanced with pro-golf interests, including Hanny. ... Ninety players will vie for six Sectional berths at U.S. Open Local Qualifying on Monday at Del Rio CC. Canadian Tour pro Ryan Thornberry of Ceres, Del Rio instructor Mitch Lowe and promising junior Andrew Bonner of Ripon join the local contingent. The 36-hole Sectional is set for June 8 at Saticoy CC in Southern California.

HOLES-IN-ONE — Kas Bischoff, Modesto, 179-yard eighth at Del Rio CC (Oak), 5-wood. ... Cecilia Jones, Copperopolis, 148-yard 14th at Saddle Creek, Copperopolis, 5-wood.

Bee sports writer Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.