Trying to go easy on a Bethel High girls golf team featuring five novices, Benicia High’s Lady Panthers dramatically shortened the course at Mare Island and cruised to a 181-300 victory last Thursday.
The course was shortened to what amounts to a par-29 for the front nine, and Bethel was allowed to tee off closer to the hole. Benicia’s Sofia Young shot a 32 (with two birdies) to earn her third straight medalist honor. Teammate Rachel Mahrt had a birdie and was right behind with a 33.
“Nothing in the rules says the course has to be a certain length or a certain par,” said Benicia coach Mike Prolo. “Everybody’s playing the same course. The kids didn’t burn out on golf. They all finished and felt pretty successful, and that’s the bottom line.”
Jennifer Eleccion shot a 34 while teammates Jazmine Norman and Catherine Mahrt each finished with a 41 for Benicia (3-0 SCAC).