Boys golf: Falcons are NorCal Champions

Pleasanton is home to the best high school boys golf team in Northern California.

At Monday's NorCal Regional Championships at Diablo Grande Golf Club — Legends West Course in Patterson, Foothill High shot an astounding 2-over par, 362 to edge Folsom and Christian Brothers of Sacramento to win the Northern California title.

"It means everything to us," senior Ryan Niu said. "It was a true team effort, everyone dug deep and played well."

With ideal golfing conditions, scores figured to be on the low side, but Foothill's score was remarkable. When the Falcons won the East Bay Athletic League tournament at the same course on May 3, they shot 382 as a team. 

"Since I've been coaching this is the best a Foothill team has played," coach Bill Hayes said. "Scoring 362 is phenomenal."

Hayes knew the NorCal Championships were being held at Diablo Grande when he arranged for the EBAL tournament to be played at the same course.

"It helped having already played the course in the EBAL tournament," Hayes said. "Traditionally, EBAL teams have done really well and I thought having the EBAL tournament here would help (any teams from the EBAL) if they made it this far."

Nicolo Galletti was the low score for Foothill with a 3-under, 69. He finished in a sixth-place tie and combined with Brett Thawley (-1, 71), Roshan Chekuri (even, 72), Niu (+1, 73) and Travis Rowney (+5, 77) to shoot the lowest score at a NorCal Regional in at least five years.

Note: To view each players individual score card, check out the photo gallery.

The Falcons played well all day, but were brilliant when they got to the back nine. Niu (-2), Galletti (-3), Chekuri (-1) and Travis Rowney (-1) were all below par after the turn.

"They were all able to come back," Hayes said. "They kept believing their scores would be low at the end of the round."

The win secures Foothill a spot in the California Interscholastic State Championships at Santa Maria Country Club in Santa Maria on June 8.

"(A state title) is what we're gunning for," Niu said. "Everyone did their part today and this is a really solid team."

De La Salle finished seventh with a 17-over 377 and California's Justin Haley finished tied with Thawley in 11th at 1-under.

Jarrett Link of Christian Brothers earned medalist honors with a 7-under, 65.

Foothill also won NorCal titles in 1985, 1986 and 2007.

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