"You picked the wrong day to come," said Ceres High girls golf coach Butch Mendonca, minutes before his team tee'd off against first-place Johansen on Sept. 27 in Modesto. "We'll have a chance against Downey on Thursday."

The Bulldogs defeated the Knights 334-339 at Modesto Municipal Golf Course.

"They've been getting better each week," Mendonca said.

Ceres High improved to 1-8 in the Modesto Metro Conference. Downey fell to 1-9 in the league standings.

"We got rid of the goose egg," Mendonca said.

"I think we could win two or three more at the most. We can beat Davis if we play our best. We also play Downey again."

Katie Perryman led Ceres High with a career-best 18-over-par 54.

Teammates Jamie Boling, Marysa Carraway, Kristina Arias and Tessa Nevarez shot 60, 69, 73 and 78, respectively, for the Bulldogs. Boling surpassed her previous-best score.

Kendra Gonzalez led the Knights with a 26-over-par 62. Seana Hood, Emily Taliaferro, Lauren Censullo and Katrina Castillo shot 65, 69, 70 and 73, respectively.

"The last time we played Downey, we lost by six," Mendonca said. "We were missing Perryman."

Johansen cruised past Ceres High, 235-335, at Modesto Muni

Boling led the Bulldogs with a 27-over 63. Perryman, Carraway, Hunt and Arias fired 64, 66, 67 and 75, respectively. - By DALE BUTLER /Staff reporter of the Ceres (Calif.) Courier