HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE — Middletown High School sophomore Cooper Johnson birdied all four of Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course’s par-5 holes Wednesday afternoon to lead the Mustangs to a Coastal Mountain Conference South victory on the par-72 layout.
Needing a win on its home course to stay close to South-leading St. Helena (14-1) in the CMC South standings, Middletown (14-2) came through with a giant assist from Johnson, whose 2-over-par 74 was nine shots better than the next lowest round, Rehn Bothof’s 83 for St. Helena.
And that was significant given Middletown beat St. Helena by eight strokes — 344 to 352.
“He played extremely well, it was impressive,” longtime Kelseyville head coach John Berry said of Cooper’s round. “Middletown kind of had to win to have a chance (in the South race).”
Berry said the first two CMC South matches this season, at Adams Springs on Cobb Mountain and at Sugarloaf in Santa Rosa, were shorter courses that favored St. Helena’s style of play while Middletown’s big hitters have the advantage on longer courses such as Hidden Valley Lake.
“Middletown is entering the part of the schedule that favors them,” Berry said with an eye toward upcoming matches at Foxtail Golf Club (April 6) in Rohnert Park and Chardonnay Golf Club (April 13) in American Canyon.
“Middletown has more power players,” Berry said.
While Johnson was securing medalist honors for the Mustangs in a South field that also includes Kelseyville, Technology and Credo high schools of Rohnert Park, and Victory Christian of Santa Rosa, Bodhi Moore had the next lowest Middletown round with a 85 followed by Luke Hoogendoorn with a 86. Dom Williams’ 99 rounded out the Mustangs’ team scoring.
Technology, third overall in team scoring Wednesday with 410, was led by Sebastian Maurice’s 93.
Credo, Kelseyville and Victory Christian all had incomplete team (fewer than four golfers). Luke Gruendle led Credo with 93. For Kelseyville, Lizzy Malaspina’s 113 led the way. Bethany Barker’s 129 was low for Victory Christian.
Middletown, the defending South champion, made the most of its home course advantage, according to Berry.
“Sure, it’s where they practice but I was very impressed with their play,” added Berry, who said it was a breakthrough-type performance for Johnson.
“Cooper Johnson dragged them to victory,” Berry said of the Mustangs. “It shows the kind of play he’s capable of.”
