Johansen’s Pena torches Rancho Del Rey in 68 to win Section Division I South title

If Johansen High School junior Daniel Pena appeared anxious over his status as “favorite,” he hid it well.

Pena, the 2014 Sac-Joaquin Section Masters individual champion, showed the kind of form that will make him difficult to beat next week. He plundered Rancho Del Rey in 4-under-par 68 – Monday’s only sub-par round – and dominated the 92-player field at the Section Division I South Tournament.

His eagle-3 at the 487-yard 13th, accomplished with a loud downwind drive and 210-yard 5-iron to within 3 feet, screamed an emphatic statement. He looked exactly like the marksman who torched The Reserve at Spanos Park, the site for next Monday’s Masters, with a 66 a year ago.

“I can’t talk bad about it (Monday’s round),” Pena said. “I left a few shots out there, but it was good. The eagle was the turning point. It went from ‘whatever’ to ‘this is a good round.’”

Also smiling at day’s end were the Gregori Jaguars, who are celebrating their first Modesto Metro Conference title. Gregori shot a 414 for second place, far behind champion Lodi, and locked up one of three Masters team berths. That was enough for a team photo-op behind the 18th green.

“We were trying for first or second,” said Garrett Ingle, one of Gregori’s seniors. “We were trying not to get our hopes up.”

An attention-getting breeze complicated matters at the D-I South. Rancho Del Rey was stretched to its maximum 6,703 yards, and its sturdy par-3s challenged everyone. In fact, Pena’s only bogeys came on the two par-3s on the front nine.

He’s lost nothing off the tee, however, now that he swings a more stiff shaft on his driver. He probably would like to gift-wrap Rancho’s par-5s and send them home. He blitzed that quartet in 5 under, featuring the near albatross at the 13th.

“For me to hit a shot from that distance so close to the hole was great, because I haven’t been doing that,” Pena said. “I hit it (the second shot) exactly the way I wanted.”

Pena has improved over the past year. Still long with his driver, he flighted the ball low on holes into the wind. He faded a 7-iron into a right-to-left crosswind at the 188-yard 17th, a confident and controlled shot that carried a large bunker and nearly resulted in a birdie.

Pena’s 68 could have been better. He spent much of the back nine burning the edges of the cup with birdie putts and, at the 18th, a 40-footer for birdie lipped out.

The result was a divisional title that eluded him last year. Brad Reeves of Lodi, who edged Pena 73 to 75 for first place last year at Elkhorn in Stockton, was the only player within shouting distance at Rancho. Reeves finished at even-par 72.

“Last year, I had problems in the wind. I’m working the ball to penetrate the wind better,” Pena said. “I didn’t have to bomb the ball today. All I tried to do was keep it in the fairway.”

Gregori extended its season with a lift from sophomore Chris Ebster, a transfer from Central Catholic’s powerful 2014 team. Ebster, who became eligible only three weeks ago, lacked his A-game but still returned a team-leading 79. Junior Greg Jalli had an 82.

Joining Pena among the six Masters individual qualifiers were Turlock senior Logan Adams and Buhach Colony junior Emie Ochoa, both with 79.

The rest of the divisional results elsewhere:

Division III at Ancil Hoffman, Carmichael – Rio Americano, no doubt cashing in on its home-course advantage, edged 2014 state qualifier Central Catholic by a stroke for the team title, 390-391. The Raiders can gain revenge at Masters next week. Matthew Robinson paced Central Catholic with a 3-over 75, but the rest spanned between 78 and 82.

“Our guys are bummed. It would have been our third straight title,” coach Dave Quintal said. “But we’re still in it.”

Division IV at Pheasant Run, Chowchilla – Los Banos placed third at 470 but missed a playoff for a Masters team berth by 29 strokes. El Capitan’s Wei Chang advanced with his 81.

Division V at La Contenta, Valley Springs – Landon Azevedo of Hilmar and Nick Sharp of Ripon shared the medalist honor after each shot 3-under 68. Lane Cadell of Escalon picked up the third Masters individual berth with a 72. Sonora (422) topped runner-up Escalon by nine strokes and is Masters-bound.

Division VI at Cherry Island, Elverta – Logan Lundquist of Turlock Christian edged Austin Butler of Big Valley Christian in a playoff for the third and final Masters berth. Both shot 77. Ripon Christian took home the team title and the only available Masters berth by totaling 419, 13 swings ahead of Big Valley Christian. Turlock Christian was third.

This story was originally published May 5, 2015 at 3:47 PM with the headline "Johansen’s Pena torches Rancho Del Rey in 68 to win Section Division I South title."