The Turlock Journal broke with tradition this week and selected two prep Athletes of the Week: golfers Christian Maggard of Turlock and Ethan Gonsalves of Denair.
Maggard won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 championship Monday with a round of 65, while Gonsalves claimed the D-6 title for a second consecutive season with a round of 67.
Typically, the Journal weighs a number of factors where there’s not an clear-cut recipient.
Maggard could’ve been the pick based on having the lower score, with three eagles on his card, against golfers from larger schools.
But that wouldn’t have told the whole story.
Maggard was playing at Turlock Golf and Country Club, his home course. Gonsalves, meanwhile, had to travel two hours to play a course he’d never seen before: Cherry Island in Elverta. That made his 67 all the more impressive.
Quite simply, it was just too close to call.
Both golfers will compete in the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters tournament on Monday at The Reserve in Stockton. Maggard will be joined in Stockton by the rest of his Turlock High teammates since the Bulldogs, by way of their second-place team finish, advanced to Masters as a unit. The top two D-2 teams — Woodcreek and Turlock — and the top six finishers not on those two rosters advanced. Gonsalves qualified as an individual.
Both Maggard and Gonsalves like The Reserve.
“I know the course very well and I love it,” said Gonsalves. “It’s a great tournament course; very fun to play.”
Maggard won the Masters there last year as a sophomore, shooting a 67.
“It sets up pretty well,” said Maggard. “The greens are kept good; fairways are nice. You just have to keep it in the middle there. But the fairways are pretty big, so they’re a pretty easy target to hit. Have a decent ball-striking day and decent putting day, you can go low.”
Christian Maggard
Age: 17
Grade: Junior
Favorite class: AP calculus
Favorite food: Sushi
Hobbies: Golf, working out, hanging out with my friends, video games
Secret talent: I have a photographic memory
Dream college: Auburn or TCU
Favorite Movie: Too many good ones to pick
Favorite TV show: I don’t watch TV … golf and school takes so much of my time
Favorite color: Green
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods
Favorite team: San Francisco 49ers
Last book read: “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai
Favorite artist: Drake
Three songs on my playlist: “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Me” by Morgan Wallen; “Nonstop” by Drake; “Hope” by NF
Finish this sentence: I can’t live without … Knowing I’ve put my best foot forward,
Finish this sentence: In 10 years I will be … on the PGA Tour.
Ethan Gonsalves
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Favorite class: English 12
Favorite food: Fettuccine Alfredo
Hobbies: Golf, working out
Dream college: Stanislaus State
Favorite Movie: “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”
Favorite TV show: “Full Swing”
Favorite color: Red
Favorite athlete: Brooks Koepka
Favorite team: Golden State Warriors
Last book read: “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer
Favorite artist: Don Toliver
Three songs on my playlist: “My Eyes,” by Travis Scott; “2AM” by Don Toliver; “No Pole” by Don Toliver
Finish this sentence: I can’t live without … Golf.
Finish this sentence: In 10 years I will be … a successful accountant.