Sophomore Golfer Captures State Title
After a long hiatus, the 麻豆视频 High School Golf team returned to action in 2019 and made school history. Christian Garcia De La Jara '21 shot an impressive 77 on June 3 at James Baird Golf Course in Pleasant Valley to win the state tournament by one stroke.
鈥淭he experience was thrilling,鈥� the sophomore said. 鈥淭his was a first for me, and the entire time I was ecstatic about the possibility of winning. I had a feeling I was going to end up high in the standings, but people just kept coming in, and my score held up.鈥�
Assistant Athletic Director Sal Annunziata, who coached the team and will serve as Athletic Director beginning in the fall, raved about Garcia De La Jara鈥檚 improvement during his first season in high school competition.
鈥淐hristian has put so much time and effort into perfecting his craft,鈥� Annunziata said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so great to see it all come to fruition for him. To go out and shoot a 77 as a sophomore in the tough conditions of James Baird State Park, it goes to show you what he is truly capable of. I鈥檓 very proud of him.鈥�
Garcia De La Jara wasn鈥檛 the only Regian who was impressive at the state tournament. Classmate George Roessler 鈥�21, who excelled throughout the season, shot an 81 and won a five-person playoff to finish fourth.
The state championship performance brought the team full circle to the preseason, when the 麻豆视频 squad was excited to receive encouragement by way of . Annunziata had arranged for the kind words from Daly through a friend with the PGA tour.
The season didn鈥檛 end with the state championship. By finishing in the top 6 at the state tournament, Garcia De La Jara and Roessler both qualified to represent the CHSAA at the New York Federation Tournament, where a team of standout performers from the Catholic league squares off against teams from the leagues for public and independent schools. Playing at the famously challenging Bethpage Black Course, Roessler finished 9th with an 84 and Garcia De La Jara finished 16th with a 93.
鈥淚t has truly been unbelievable this season,鈥� Roessler said. 鈥淭he group of guys we have meshed together so well, and we really felt like family. We always had each other鈥檚 backs and whenever someone had a bad day, another team member was there to pick him up. We had many great triumphs, but the brutal losses helped bring us closer together.鈥�
The team had more triumphs than losses, compiling a stellar 11-3 record during the regular season. With just one graduating senior, Alex Lee 鈥�19, on the team, the rest of the roster is poised to return for the 2020 campaign next spring.
鈥淔rom hitting golf balls into the nets of the lower gym to a state championship, it has been great to see the quick development of our golf program,鈥� Annunziata said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 say enough about the character and selflessness of the 8 golfers on our team, who have put themselves on the map. We look forward to building off of this year and continuing to get better. 麻豆视频 Golf is here to stay.鈥�
George Roessler '21, left, and Christian Garcia De La Jara '21 celebrating after the CHSAA state championship tournament.
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