LOMPOC — The Kelseyville High School golf team struggled against the course, the wind and especially the competition on Monday during the 46th annual Lompoc Invitational at La Purisima Golf Club in Lompoc.
The par-72 La Purisima course is a host for PGA Qualifying School, so the 28 high school teams competing there had their work cut out. Windy conditions made the course play even tougher on Monday as Righetti High School of Santa Maria topped the field with an 8-over-par 224 total (three-man team).
Kelseyville entered two teams and neither fared very well. Kelseyville No. 1 finished with 270 to place 19th and Kelseyville No. 2 fired a 285 to finish 25th.
Bobby Barajas of Righetti set a tournament record with a 6-under-par 66. The course record of 64 is held by PGA star Scott Verplank.
Kelseyville coach John Berry didn”t hide his disappointment over the Knights” performance. Comparing La Purisima to Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa, host of the North Coast Sectionals, Berry said his team has to play better if it hopes to advance deep into the postseason.
“Both courses are long and tough and we can”t be intimidated by them,” Berry said. “We got our comeupance while playing against some tough teams.”
Kelseyville”s best individual round was 86 by Brent Hamilton. Nick Schaefer and Schuyler Bloom finished with 92 and Hipolito Perez had 93.
“I know we”re capable of much better,” Berry said.
