The Malibu High golf team saved their best showing for the end of the season.
The Sharks outlasted three opponents to win the final Tri-Valley League match of the golf season, on May 3.
Malibu golf coach Cindy McConnell said the victory was an ecstatic event for her team.
“They all were very happy,” she said. “We’ve had a good season with a lot of growth.”
Junior Grant Knox’s 77 led Malibu to victory at the Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura. Malibu’s 431 beat out Foothill Tech’s 435, St. Bonaventure’s 435, Bishop Diego’s 452 and Grace Brethren’s 467.
Keaton Osborn shot 80, Sammy Mankoff shot 82, Solon Lusinchi and Hunter Nelson shot 96 and Dawson Mathews shot 102 for Malibu.
Malibu had collected mostly third- and fourth-place finishes throughout the season, but the seven-member group consistently got better, said McConnell, a former professional golfer.
“All the boys improved as the season went on,” she said.
The golfers worked on their short game—putting and chipping—and course management.
McConnell said the Sharks really turned toward a winning corner when they finished third in a match the week before their closing-season victory.
“It was a great group match,” she said. “Every boy either tied or had their best competitive round they had ever shot. Two of the boys broke 80 for the first time, two broke 90 and two of them broke 100. Those are big milestones in golf. That gave them some momentum going into the last match.”
McConnell said Malibu’s first-place finish should give team members confidence for next season.
“Of course, that is a year away,” she said. “It depends on if they continue to practice and play.”