Sobrato’s Travis Saenz chips out of the bunker on hole four during their round against Prospect Wednesday at Coyote Creek.

What began as a fun way for a handful of Sobrato’s top senior athletes to enjoy their final semester of high school has turned into a benchmark season for the SHS boys golf team.
The Bulldogs started the week 8-0 in the Santa Teresa Division and on pace to win their first championship of any kind. They’ll need help to make that a reality, following back-to-back loss to Prospect on Tuesday, 227-243, and Wednesday, 225-238. But Sobrato’s best season in program history has been a big enough achievement for fourth-year coach Jeff Bernstein.
“My first year, we were in the A league … and I don’t think we won at all. Last two years were kind of rough, too,” he said. “It would be awesome to win league, especially to have it with our seniors being our top six scorers. That’s a nice way to end their high school careers.”
The scene at Sobrato’s warm-up for Wednesday’s match at Coyote Creek Golf Club was a who’s-who of talent. There was Scott Henningsen, the team’s top scorer (45 average for nine holes), who led Sobrato boys soccer in goals over the past two seasons; Travis Saenz (46), an all-league guard on the boys basketball team; and Connor Porzio, who was a two-way starting lineman during football season.
With no offseason training this spring, those three decided to put what golf skills they have to good use for Bernstein’s team, which also features Kyle Brown and Jared White and Kyle Brown.
“It’s good to be part of a team,” Saenz said. “It’s fun having everyone contribute. We’re not too serious, though. We try to have fun.”
Henningsen, who drives almost as well as he blasts soccer balls into the net from distance, collected a birdie Tuesday at Cinnabar Hills.
“My dad’s been hounding me to play since sophomore year – play golf!” he said. “I figured, why not?”
Henningsen can’t help but be competitive, especially now that Sobrato has something to play for.
“I get upset with myself when I’m not hitting the ball like I can,” he said. “These next two weeks, we’re trying to buckle down and make sure we get our work done.”
Bernstein said any one of the five players mentioned can be medalist on any given day. Saenz and Henningsen, who are playing partners, have done so the most. Both will likely represent Sobrato in the May 1 Blossom Valley Athletic League Tournament, should the Bulldogs not take the division and advance as a team.
“They’re athletes, plain and simple,” Bernstein said. “Whereas some of the other guys get discouraged, Scott and Travis can compete and fight through it. You need competitors like that on any team.”
– Live Oak can clinch second place in the Mount Hamilton Division next week by winning one of two matches against Evergreen Valley.
Matt Jarvis has been the Acorns’ top player with an average score of 40.6, followed by Cameron Moeller (41.6). Teammate Michael Jarvis shot a 39 as medalist Wednesday in a 205-217 victory over Leland at Santa Teresa Golf Club.
Monday, the Acorns (7-3) placed fifth out of 15 schools in the Freedom Invitational at Shadow Lakes, with Live Oak freshman Austin Ryder taking sixth at 6-over-par 77.

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