YUCAIPA — A shock to the system.
That’s how Yucaipa boys golf coach Brian Blalock described a 218-228 loss to Citrus Valley at Arrowhead Country Club on March 25 that opened Citrus Belt League play.
In four matches since that loss, Yucaipa has averaged a team score of 209.3, including a season-low 197 against Cajon on Tuesday.
In Thursday’s rematch against Citrus Valley at Yucaipa Valley Golf Club, it was senior Chase Miller leading the Thunderbirds charge, posting a round of 37 which included three bogeys and two birdies to earn medalist honors in a 203-225 win.
Yucaipa is 5-3 overall and 5-1 in Citrus Belt League play and remains ahead of the Blackhawks (8-4, 2-2) in the league standings .
“After starting the year with a tournament win we were a little bit inconsistent but we’ve started to put things together over this recent stretch,” Blalock said. “Two weeks ago on his birthday, Chase shot probably his highest score since freshman year in practice. After that round, we sat and talked for a bit about the mental side and decision making. He’s taken that discussion to heart and run with it.”
Miller drained a 25-foot uphill birdie putt at the 144 yard par-3 third hole and was 1 under par early. He closed with a birdie at No. 9 after sticking a short-iron approach shot to 5 feet and making the putt. It offset a mid-round stretch that saw him make three bogeys in four holes. Seth Looy double-bogeyed the opening hole but was 1 over par for his next eight holes — narrowly missing a number of short birdie opportunities — to post a 39, .
“That putt at No. 3 was definitely a tone setter for the day,” Miller said. “We’re excited to be back in first place but now we have to hold it and sustain this good golf through the league tournament and into postseason play.”
With one group in, Yucaipa led by seven shots after Grant Tucker shot a 41 and Chris Leblanc a 42 for Citrus Valley.
Leblanc made a pair of impressive par saves to start his round, coming within inches of a chip-in birdie at No. 2 and draining a 25-foot putt at No. 4. He also got up and down at the par-5 No. 7 for birdie, sticking another short wedge shot from 50 yards to tap in range after punching out from trees left of that fairway. Tucker’s round could’ve been several shots lower except for a pair of three putts on the par 5s.
Yucaipa’s Braydon Ervist made another birdie at the last to post 41 as he and Travis Streeter (43) won their group by eight shots.
London Tavis posted a 43 in the match’s final group to finish off Yucaipa’s win.
Yucaipa returns to Citrus Belt League action on Tuesday with a match against Beaumont. Meanwhile, Citrus Valley plays a non-league match against Yucca Valley on Monday before playing three straight league matches against Redlands, Cajon, and Beaumont.
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