Central Valley High School varsity boys golf star Anthony Bonales fell short in his quest to win a third consecutive Western Athletic Conference individual title, tournament championship and Most Valuable Player award.
Bonales, a junior, placed third with a 7-over-par 79 at the WAC year-end tournament on Wednesday at Stevinson Ranch.

Central Catholic senior/University of Colorado-bound Andrew Bonner posted a 77 on his way to a runner-up performance.

Bonner and Bonales finished 1-2 in the WAC individual standings.

"I know he's disappointed," Hawks head coach Mike Holliday said. "He'll internalize it. He'll use it to get better. He just never stops working."

Anthony and Andrew both racked up 76 points during the WAC regular season.

Bonner and Bonales were awarded 20 and 16 points, respectively, at the league championships.

"It was a dead heat going in," Holliday said.

"If I would have played half decent on the front nine, I would have had a really good chance at winning," added Anthony, who registered a bogey on the first hole after hitting his second shot out of bounds. "I wanted to claim a third title. I'm definitely not happy about it (losing). But I'm not going to let it hold me back from getting better. Losses motivate you."

Bonner ended Bonales' two-year reign as the top player in the WAC.

Andrew had a mere four-point (96-92) lead over Anthony in the final standings.

Bonales edged out Bonner by three strokes, 31-34, two days earlier during the Central Valley-Central Catholic dual competition.

"There was pressure this year," Bonales said. "I was glad. It made me focus a lot more. I played some good rounds. I had fun."

Said Holliday: "I liked that he had that type of competition all year."

Bonales and Hawk teammate Jacob Craig (95) earned individual berths to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV tournament. The event will be staged at Castle Oaks Golf Course in Ione.

"Postseason is just starting," Bonales said. "That's the most important thing."