SportStars of the week: Austin Sandoval
The junior-to-be fired a final- round 67 to win the Sacramento County Men’s Championship by one stroke at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course in Carmichael. After trailing by five strokes following a first-round 73, Sandoval played an incredible back nine, including birdies on four of the last five holes to capture the all-ages title. His two-day 140 (-4) was good enough for the victory one week after he won his age division and placed second overall at the County Junior Championship at Cherry Island GC. Sandoval expects to play a key role in the Marauders’ defense of the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championship team title in the spring, but will conclude a busy summer season at the 89th California State Fair Men’s Amateur Championship at Haggin Oaks over the Labor Day weekend.
SportStars: Have you ever had a closing run of birdies like that on a bigger stage?
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Austen Sandoval: That is definitely the biggest stage that I’ve made a run like that. I just got into a groove. When things start clicking for me, I can make a lot of birdies, and things have been clicking for me this summer.
SSM: To what can you attribute your improved play and results this summer?
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AS: I just started driving (a car) this year, so I have been able to spend all day at the course working on my game. I’m getting in a lot of work, and technically, I think that my putting has been the biggest improvement.
SSM: How has the improvement of your putting affected the rest of your game and raised your level of play?
AS: During the school season last year, I was hitting the ball well, but I was not scoring well. I am more confident in my putting, so I don’t feel that I have to put everything so close to the pin to score. That confidence takes some pressure off in the fairway because I expect that I will make my putts.
Honorable Mention
Kemet Brown - The 12-year-old West Sacramen- to Little League all-star led batted .524 with 4 home runs, 9 RBI, and a .615 on-base percentage to go with three stolen bases during the Section 4 tournament, which West Sacramento won for the first time since 2000.
Connor Laffan - The West Sac- ramento Little League Majors all-star batted .833 with 4 home runs, 3 doubles, and 8 RBI to help his team earn a third-place finish in the Division II NorCal tournament. Laffan also scored 8 runs in the tourney.
Bri Moore - The St. Mary’s- Stockton junior guard was recently amongCalHiSports.com’s “Cream of the Crop” selections from the FILA 64 Las Vegas AAU tournament.
SportStars of the week: Sac-Joaquin Link
http://issuu.com/sportstars/docs/sjxaug01x13/7?e=1796071/4265830
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