WINDSOR >> Kelseyville High School’s Matt Wotherspoon birdied two of the final three holes to card a sizzling 2-under-par 70 on Thursday during a Coastal Mountain Conference South match at Windsor Golf Club.
After beating St. Vincent a week ago, the Petaluma school’s first CMC South loss since 2012, Kelseyville played the Mustangs close again. St. Vincent finished with 333 (low four individual rounds out of five) while Kelseyville was close behind at 341.
“It’s one thing to beat them at home,” Kelseyville coach John Berry said of the Knights’ win over St. Vincent a week ago at Adams Springs Golf Course on Cobb Mountain, “but I was very pleased we were that close to them on the road.”
Wotherspoon was nothing short of sensational. He fired a 36 on the front nine with three birdies and a 34 on the back nine with three more birdies, the final two coming on the 16th and 17th holes.
“It’s indicative of how talented he can be,” Berry said of his senior standout.
Wotherspoon’s closest pursuer was St. Vincent’s Max Kleinecke at 78. Geyserville’s Carson Kalbfleish finished at 80.
Kelseyville’s ability to stay close to South leader St. Vincent throughout the round, which took place on a sunny day with the temperature in the mid-60s and no wind, had a lot to do with the consistent play of Mike Beverlin (89), Jon Vanderwall (91) and Dylan Escobedo (91).
“I’m pleased with our continuing development and growth as a team,” Berry said. “St Vincent is a very capable team but Kelseyville is very close right now.”
Middletown finished third in the team standings on Thursday with 376 and was followed by St. Helena at 385 and Credo at 510. Technology, Stony Pont and Geyserville all had incomplete teams (fewer than four golfers). Derek Coulter led Middletown with 91, Andrew Martz had 92, Quentin Crayne carded a 95, and Austin Pritchard had 98.
St. Helena’s Mitchell Wilms finished at 88.
The Windsor match constituted the first half of the CMC South Championships, which conclude Tuesday at Oakmont West in Santa Rosa. Following play at Oakmont West, the South champion will be crowned and the at-large players will be announced for the upcoming North Coast Section playoffs. The All-CMC South team also will be released at that time.
