The Palo Alto boys successfully defended their golf title at the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Tournament on Tuesday at the par-71 Santa Teresa Golf Course in San Jose.
The Vikings had a team total of 361 to easily hold off runner-up Los Gatos (388) and third-place Gunn (397). Only the top two teams earned automatic berths into one of two Central Coast Section regionals next week at Rancho Canada (West) in Carmel Valley.
Paly freshman Ahmed Ali earned medalist honors with a 5-under 66 as he recorded six birdies and one bogey. Junior Henry Hughes shot an even-par 71, senior John Knowles carded a 74, junior Henry Gordon finished with a 75 as did junior Matt Lewis. Freshman Joonsung Ha shot 78, but his score wasn’t needed as the Vikings continued their successful season.
Gunn, which was led by Jack Jaffe’s 73, still can qualify for a CCS regional, as an at-large team.
At the West Bay Athletic League Tournament, Sacred Heart Prep earned the league’s second team berth into the CCS regionals after posting the No. 2 score on Tuesday at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Gilroy.
The Gators shot 410 with Menlo School (433), Pinewood (442) and King’s Academy (474) trailing round-robin season champ Harker (388), which already had earned a team berth.
Sacred Heart Prep will play in the regional on Tuesday while Harker will play on Wednesday.
Rashad Jaymes (Crystal Springs), Oliver Cho (Pinewood) and William Yao (King’s Academy) earned the league’s automatic individual entries to CCS.
The next-highest finishers not on a qualifying team also could earn one of the six at-large individual entries to be determined at Thursday’s seeding meeting.
Menlo was hurt by the loss of freshman standout Max Ting, who had to withdraw due to stomach flu after the second hole. The Knights will apply for an at-large team berth.
The CCS Championships will be held May 12, also at Rancho Canada (West).