San Jacinto High School Hosts Thrilling 3-Day Match Play Tournament at Golden Era Golf Course

Over three action-packed days, eight Riverside County high schools battled hole-by-hole in one of the most unique and exciting formats in high school golf.

Participating schools included San Jacinto High School, Citrus Hills (Moreno Valley), Elsinore High School, Indio High School, Liberty High School (Menifee), La Quinta High School, Notre Dame (Riverside), and Perris High School.

Now in its fifth year under the direction of San Jacinto High School Golf Coach James Stull, the tournament continues to grow in both prestige and impact. Coach Stull, who leads both the varsity boys and girls golf teams while also serving as a middle school math teacher, brings deep experience to the event. Before entering education, he was a PGA teaching professional — and his passion for the sport is evident in every detail of the tournament.

Unlike traditional stroke play, Match Play is decided hole by hole — each golfer faces an individual opponent, and every hole becomes its own contest. The tournament is divided into three competitive divisions: Championship, Orange, and Black.

“Match Play gets everyone out and playing several rounds of golf,” said Coach Stull. “It sharpens their skills and gives them the opportunity to experience a lot of golf in just three days.”

Beyond the competition, the tournament serves an important purpose. Match Play is a key fundraiser for the San Jacinto High School Golf Team. Entry fees from participating schools help fund team uniforms and end-of-year celebrations. Community members interested in supporting the program can contact Coach Stull at jstull@sanjacinto.k12.ca.us.

The event also highlighted strong community support. On the opening day, the Sportsman Club of Hemet hosted a BBQ for players and coaches, setting the tone for three days of sportsmanship and fellowship.

Coach Stull emphasized the life lessons the sport provides:
“Golf teaches sportsmanship, accountability, perseverance, and confidence. One of my golfers was failing two years ago in high school. He tried out for the golf team, and now he has a 3.6 GPA and is number one on the team.”

Golden Era Golf Course once again proved to be an exceptional host.
“The course is in great shape,” Stull added. “Golden Era is an amazing host. They open everything up for us and give us three full days of access.”

Golf runs deep in Coach Stull’s family — taught by his grandmother, and inspired by generations before him, he continues to pass that legacy on to his players.

Coaches from participating schools praised both the format and the experience.

Chris Baxter, golf coach from Citrus Hills, shared:
“This is a great opportunity for kids to get to know students from different schools. Some of them will be golf partners for life and play together in college.”

Notre Dame High School Coach Mike Van Sickle recalled the tournament’s origins, noting that the first Match Play event was established in 2002 by Steve Simpson of San Jacinto High School at Golden Era Golf Course.“I have a lot of fond memories of this golf course,” Van Sickle said.

He added, “Anybody can beat anyone in Match Play. It’s a great equalizer — each hole is its own match.”

Indio High School Coach Steve Krause called it simply, “One of the best tournaments of the year.”

Throughout the event, one thing was clear: the dedication of the coaches extends far beyond teaching swing mechanics. They instill etiquette, respect for fellow competitors, and integrity — lessons that last long after the final putt drops.

Tournament Results

Championship Division
1st Place – Hunter Hanson – La Quinta
2nd Place – Cooper Gallegos – Notre Dame

Orange Division
1st Place – Santino Cabungcal – Notre Dame
2nd Place – Liam Brown – Liberty

Black Division
1st Place – Rui Galindez – Perris
2nd Place – Carlos Gomez – Citrus Hills