Boys’ golf looks to build on last year’s historic success

Head Coach: Dave Gragnola

2018-2019 record: 10-2

2018-2019 recap: The boys made it to NorCals and States for the first time in school history and placed fourth at States.

Key Additions: freshman Howard Shu

Key Matchups: Monta Vista, Palo Alto

Star Players: senior Kevin Sze, juniors Michael Burry, Albert Jing and Geoffrey Jing

Key losses to graduation: Daniel Kraft, William Liu

League: De Anza 

Prognosis: 

After a 10-2 record in league play last year, the Falcons finished third in the first and second rounds of CCS to make it to NorCals for the first time in school history. 

At NorCals, they beat rivals Bellarmine and Stevenson and went on to finish fourth in the State tournament at Poppy Hills Golf Club in Monterey. 

“It’s hard to have five out of six players perform at a high level when you get to CCS and beyond,” head coach Dave Gragnola said. “I think we have tough-minded players that don’t give up on a round when they have a few bad holes.” 

The Falcons will try to replicate their impressive season from last year. All of the top four players — senior Kevin Sze, junior Michael Burry, junior twin brothers Albert and Geoffrey Jing — will return, and the Falcons will add freshman Howard Shu. 

A key match this season will be against Cupertino; the Falcons lost by two shots to Cupertino on their home course last year. 

“We’re still a little salty about losing last year to Cupertino,” Albert Jing said. “They ended our undefeated run, and we felt like we should have won if we had played to our abilities.”

The boys are confident that they can repeat their historic success. The players have tasted what it feels like to be the most dominant team in the league, and they understand the pressures that come with playing in CCS, NorCals and States. 

 “If we can avoid injury and play smart, then we should win our league and prove we have one of the best teams in California,” Gragnola said.