Foothill High School’s boys golf team won a “gutsy” championship at Brookside Country Club in Stockton last week on a course where the winds were gusting to 40 mph and every stroke counted.
Team parent Gerry Machi said the golfers “performed like champions,” finishing with the Northern California Championship title. They beat the field and last year’s state champs from De La Salle Catholic high by 5 strokes.
It’s been 21 years since Foothill last claimed the NorCal crown, achieved when now golf pro Todd Fischer played on the team in 1985-86. The win also marks the first time Foothill has advanced to the State Championship Golf Tournament.
The Falcons fired an impressive 388 score, finishing ahead of golf powerhouses De La Salle 393, Christian Brothers-Sacramento 397, Colfax 399, Monte Vista 399, Bellarmine-San Jose 401, Pacific Grove 403, Rocklin 405 and Palma-Salinas 423.
De La Salle and Christian Brothers-Sacramento also advanced to the state championship to face the top three teams from the south on June 6 at Poppy Hills Golf Club in Pebble Beach.
“This team has proven all year, since a 2-stroke match loss in March, that they can play with anyone, and the tougher the golf course and conditions the better,” said Machi, “These kids are good!”
Machi should know. His son Anthony, a Foothill junior and the EBAL’s Most Valuable Player fired a 3-over par 75 at NorCal. He averaged 72.3 in all eight tournaments this year, less than 1-over par (.9) per round and never scored higher than 75. He fired a season low 4-under par 67 to win the De La Salle Invitational.
Senior Team Captain Eric Pitcaithley, an EBAL all-league team member, fired a 2-over par 74 at NorCal and proved he is one of the best high school tournament players in Northern California. The Long Beach State-bound Pitcaithley averaged 73.8 (2.3 over par) in all 8 tournaments this year, including a 1-under par 70 to win the EBAL Championship tournament.
Last year’s “most improved” player, Foothill junior Justin Gabbert, kept improving this year. He fired a 7-over par 79 at NorCal and maintained his solid tournament scoring average of 76.6 for all 8 tournaments.
“Gabbert proved he is a golfer to be reckoned with when he fired a 1-under par 71 to claim 2nd place at the NCS Qualifier at Lone Tree Golf Course,” Gerry Machi said.
Junior Mat Miller joined the “70s” club and averaged 78 in six tournaments this year providing the solid team scoring necessary to lift the Falcons to six of eight tournament wins this season. Miller also propelled the Falcons into post-season play by firing a 3-under par 32 at Castlewood Country Club to lead the victory over Amador Valley High in the year’s final EBAL match.
