Oakdale High School

Oakdale Linksters Ready For Big Season

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If high school golf teams competed with 16 golfers instead of five, Oakdale would easily compete for a section championship.

With 35 students signing up for the sport and 16 solid golfers on the roster for season competition, Mustang coach Lee McGhee is left with some difficult decisions on who gets to golf in each Valley Oak League match.

The tough inter-squad competition should make for a deep and proven unit of golfers as the Mustangs shoot for a VOL title and playoff qualification.

“We have a lot of guys on this team, and we are going to do our best to keep them all involved and play our best golf,” McGhee said. “As far as depth goes we have about 10 guys could play in any of our matches.”

Oakdale is 4-1 on the young season and 2-0 in VOL play after wins over both Central Valley and Ceres. The team beat Buhach Colony 217-241 last week after a 37-stroke performance from freshman Ian Stogdell. Austin Whitworth also carded a 43 while Kyle Derby and Brandon Neal each shot 46. Danny Wong ended in 45 strokes while Vince Fauria was the throw-out score with a 50.

In VOL action, Oakdale upended Ceres 167-224 on the par 31 River Oaks Golf Course. Whitworth shot a 32 while Wong added a 33. Stogdell, Derby and Michael Trip each shot a 34 in the win.

The Mustangs topped Central Valley as well in a match where the Hawks were unable to card a full score after 180 Oakdale strokes. Whitworth shot an amazing 31 after an eagle on a 252-yard par four. Stogdell added a 34 while Wong (37), Connor Gust (39), Tripp (39) and Derby (41) also had solid scores.

Oakdale’s lineup each match is likely to be dependent on scores early in the week, with an eye for hot shooters and VOL point-collectors as the season moves on.

Whitworth is the undisputed No. 1 after earning the lowest score average of any VOL golfer last year. He leads a talented group of golfers that includes returning seniors Derby, Neal and Garrett Martin.

Juniors Tripp and Gust are also back for a big season with freshman Stogdell and Wong earning a reputation for their competitiveness across nine holes.

The Mustangs will build upon a third place league finish after an 11-3 run last year in VOL action. The team tied with second place Sonora in VOL matches and was competitive with the league champion Sierra Timberwolves.

Only two teams from the VOL advance as a unit to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV Championships. From there, only one program moves on to compete at the SJS Masters, a lofty goal for any team not named Colfax. The Eagles have won all three team titles since Division IV began a postseason in 2007.

“It’s too bad only one team moves on from divisionals,” McGhee said. “It seems like every year Colfax just knocks everyone else out of the postseason.”

The Mustangs would need some stellar scores to push past Colfax, or even win the VOL in a tough league schedule. But with Oakdale’s depth and experience, it’s not out of the question.