By Paul Zech
Another amazing Mariners golf season: With 8 wins and two matches left out of 10 league matches as of this paper’s deadline, Aptos has already secured the 2022 SCCAL Championship.
Kneeling: Justin Rifkind. From Left: assistant coach Kip Jackson, JV coach Brad King, Tyler Grosdidier, Andrew Cox, Matt Ramos, Patrick Mackle, Joseph Mackle, Ben Meltzer, Nick Leggett, Dominic DeLuca, Shane Garvey, Shawn Roschelle, Luke Garvey, and varsity coach Paul Zech. (Missing: Vito Riccabona and Seamus Carey)
The entire team earned places at the Central Coast Section playoffs at Laguna Seca Golf Course starting May 10.
Aptos and every other team have No. 1 & No. 2 low-scoring players, but once again the “heart & depth” of this group of talented class act gentlemen really shines with the scores of the players at No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5. Those stars include seniors Shane Garvey, Ben Meltzer, Seamus Carey, Patrick Mackle, Joey Mackle, Matt Ramos and Nick Leggett and sophomore Andrew Cox — they collectively average 41.5 strokes, just 4-5 strokes above par. That number is tough to beat, as the Mariners record shows.
This Mariner golf team never discussed other team wins and losses, they put their head looking forward, focused, refined their skills during practices and matches.
So far Mariners have outscored their opponents by 218 strokes, that’s 27.25 per match —impressive number.
Our boys own 7 low-score medalist honors out of 8 matches. Senior Dominic DeLuca proudly has 3, senior Vito Riccabona 2, senior Ben Meltzer 1 and sophomore Andrew Cox 1.
Paul Zech is the varsity golf coach at Aptos High School
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Editor’s note: How does Varsity Coach Paul Zech describe his 2022 champions? His words: “11 extremely polite, intelligent, talented and, incredibly supportive of one another and their opponents as well. I enjoyed seeing this TEAM every practice and match, they would always make my day and my week.”