Enochs golfer Martinez is masterful

Ties for medalist honor at section final

Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

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STOCKTON -- One year ago at The Reserve at Spanos Park, Shawnee Martinez walked away a disappointed a golfer.

The weather turned windy, and Martinez's chances to reach the CIF Northern California Championship hinged on surviving a five-players-for-one-berth playoff, a roulette spin she did not win.

One year later at the same venue, Martinez wore the smile of a champion. This time, the sun sparkled and so did her game.

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The Enochs High sophomore delivered a clutch late-round rally for a 1-under-par 71 -- six strokes better than 2008 -- good for co-medalist honors Monday of the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Golf Championship.

She was matched in the field of 102 only by senior Marissa Mar of section champion St. Francis.

"I bounced back. I needed that," Martinez said. "I did really good today."

Though undersized, Martinez compensates with high expectations and experience which belies her age.

The Modesto Metro Conference MVP joins three teams and three indivuals who advance to the NorCals on Monday at San Jose's Almaden Country Club.

Martinez, disappointed by her 80 last week at the Section Division I South at Merced CC, answered with renewed focus. She virtually bunked out at The Reserve over the weekend, chipping and putting on Saturday and playing on Sunday, and the work paid off.

Her readiness showed when she quickly recovered from two nervous three-putts early in the round. A series of pars carried her to the 15th and the 16th, where she separated from the pack.

Martinez's 7-iron shot at the 130-yard 15th reached pin-high to the left and rolled down a slope, settling two inches above the hole. "I don't know how (it stayed out)," said the girl who scored two aces almost before she lost her baby teeth.

At the par-5 16th, she ignored water to the left and rifled a 170-yard 4-hybrid about 20 feet past the cup and nearly drained the putt for eagle. A four-foot par-saver at the 17th sustained her momentum to the clubhouse.

"I wanted to go for it (at the 16th)," Martinez said. "I had no time to play safe."

Martinez and her Enochs teammates placed 11th in the 13-team field dominated by St. Francis' 373. East Union, a four-time section champion which reached the NorCals in 2008, tied with St. Mary's for fifth.

Escalon, which withstood a 50-mph gale at Stevinson Ranch last week to win the Division V, finished 13th despite a knockout finish by junior Presli Pilati. Her 80th and final stroke was a beauty, a 70-yard pitch into the cup for an eagle at the par-5 second.

While Martinez joked with friends, Turlock Christian junior Kathleen Rojas surveyed the leaderboard with sad resignation. Rojas, whose 84 in the Stevinson Ranch dust storm gained admirers throughout the section, followed it with a solid 76 but missed the trip to San Jose by one stroke.

"A lot of my putts should have gone in. They just didn't drop," Rojas said. "The girls out here are pretty good."

Johansen senior Christine Uhalde, last week's section medalist and soon bound for Fresno State, will not make a second appearance at the NorCal. A trouble-filled 43 on the back nine resulted in a 79, though she rattled the flagstick with her pitch for a closing birdie.

In the end, the day was seized by Martinez, who already is building more barriers to clear.

"Stopping here is not an accomplishment to me," she said. "I have to improve on my years in high school. I want to make it to state."

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