Ebster of Gregori struggles to 82 at state

Chris Ebster’s first tee shot, straight and true at San Gabriel Country Club’s par-four first hole, rolled into a divot.

It got worse from there.

The Gregori High junior’s third appearance at the CIF State Boys Championships did not go as planned. He struggled to an 11-over 82 and tied for 50th in the field of 52, a sobering end to a strong season.

“I was not nervous. Usually I can’t eat breakfast, but I had a good breakfast,” Ebster said. “Nothing clicked.”

The difficult day contrasted with his 69 for a tie for second place at the Northern California Championships last week at Corral de Tierra at Salinas.

San Gabriel CC, an old members club featuring tree-lined fairways and deep bunkers, does not forgive wayward shots. Ebster hit only one fairway in regulation during his front nine. His four double bogeys included one at the first and the 18th.

Ebster was familiar with San Gabriel through his experience two years ago with the state-qualifying Central Catholic team. Back then, he led the Raiders by shooting a 73. Ebster transferred to Gregori after his freshman year.

“The greens were more firm this year,” he said. “I hit some good iron shots that hit by the hole and bounced over. They would have stuck when I was a freshman.”

Making his round seem worse was Woodbridge’s Hidetoshi Yoshihara, a UCLA recruit and one of Ebster’s playing partners, who earned medalist honors with his 6-under 65.

Torrey Pines, which qualified for state for the sixth time in seven years, topped the six-team field with a total of 358. Lodi senior Brad Reeves, who will continue his career at Arizona, tied for fourth individually with a 1-under 70.

“It was more fun to go to state as a team than as an individual,” Ebster said. “I had my buddies around me here when I was a freshman.”

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Ebster of Gregori struggles to 82 at state."