Boys golf: Amador Valley Advances to NCS TOC

Conditions were far from ideal at Monday's North Coast Section Golf South Qualifier at Metropolitan Golf Links in Oakland, but the rain and wind seemed to have little affect on the Amador Valley High boys' team.

Led by A.J. Hebert's 2-over par 74, the Dons carded the low team score at 391 and advanced to the NCS Tournament of Champions on May 17 at Baywood Golf and Country Club in Arcata.

"We've been playing really well as a team," Hebert said. "Last week, (at the EBAL tournament) we started to click. We had to take an 87 and still finished fourth."

The 87 came from the team's No. 1 player and captain, Robbie Garcia. At Metro, Garcia was back in top form, joining teammates Justin Shotwell and Patrick Kim with 4-over 76s.

"(Garcia) was the key," Amador coach Clark Fuller said. "He came back and played like the captain today."

Amador edged league East Bay Athletic League foe De La Salle, which also advanced to the TOC with a 394. They will join Foothill in Arcata, which punched its ticket for the TOC by winning the EBAL championships.

The three schools figure to be the favorites to advance to the CIF NorCal Championships, which will be held at the Diablo Grande Golf Club – Legends Course, in Patterson on May 24. It was the same location the EBAL tournament was held on May 3.

"I don't know if any of the other teams (competing at the TOC) have broken 400 this year," Fuller said.

Hebert was excited the entire team gets to keep playing, unlike last year when Amador's Jonny Baxter qualified for NorCal's as an individual.

"I'm looking forward to the (300-plus mile) trip with the team," he said. "It should be fun and I think that Foothill, De La Salle and us will finish all in the top-three."