Ceres High's varsity girls golf program managed a third-place finish at the Western Athletic Conference Mid-Season Tournament this past week despite competing shorthanded due to illness.

The Bulldogs posted a team score of 626 while finishing ahead of Patterson (663), Pacheco (771) and Central Valley on Sept. 27 at Rancho Del Rey Golf Course.
Livingston (504) and Los Banos (622) took first and second, respectively.

"We knew Livingston was going to win it," Ceres High head coach Randy Cerny said. "We were hoping to come in second. Our lack of depth hurt us."

Bulldog Rose Sammons was sidelined with flu-like symptoms.

"We didn't have our third-best golfer," Cerny said. "Rose was at the doctor."

"If we would have had Rose there, we would have taken second," Ceres High veteran player Hannah Smith said. "She's a really strong member of our team."

Smith fired a 21-over-par 93 en route to a third-place finish in the tournament's individual standings.

"I broke 100 for the first time on that course," she said. "I could have putted a little better. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with how I did."

Added Cerny: "Hannah is playing some good golf right now."

Bulldog teammates Monika Ramirez (125), Vanessa Ramos (126), Ariana Medina (133) and Alex Potts (149) placed 11th, 13th, 16th and 23rd, respectively.

"It's fun watching these girls play," Cerny said. "They're very competitive."

Central Valley didn't post a team due to its lack of depth.

The Hawks' lineup features just four players.

Katherine Nou (142), Emily Almanza (147), Karina Avalos (148) and Fiona Gay (154) took 17th, 21st, 22nd and 24th, respectively.

CHS 209, Los Banos 230
Ceres High won its WAC head-to-head matchup, 209-230, versus Los Banos on Thursday at St. Stanislaus Golf Course.

"We beat them convincingly," Cerny said.

The Bulldogs leapfrogged the Tigers in WAC's overall standings.

Second-place Ceres High improved to 5-1 in conference dual competition.

"Only two teams go to the playoffs this year," Cerny said. "We're doing everything we can to be one of those teams."

"This is my last year," Smith said. "I really hope we get the opportunity again. It would be awesome."

Smith carded a 37 on her way to tying for low-medalist honors with 2016 WAC Mid-Season Tournament champion Morgan Pimentel during the Ceres High-Los Banos match.

"I play my best golf when the competition is better," Smith said.

Ramirez and Sammons posted identical scores of 42.

Ramos and Medina shot 43 and 45, respectively.

"All of our girls have improved on their scores at St. Stanislaus," Cerny said. "The more you play, the better you get."