Boys golf: San Domenico’s Valiauga on fire, Marin Academy wins title

Oskar Valiauga was celebrating his championship victory in San Rafael on Monday while an acquaintance of his, Kris Kim, was playing in Texas at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. With a pair of eagles on his card and a gold medal around his neck, Valiagua looked ready to challenge Kim.

A San Domenico School standout and Lithuanian National Team player, Valiauga shot an even-par 71 at Peacock Gap Golf Club to claim medalist honors at Monday’s Bay Counties League championship. He secured an individual berth in next week’s North Coast Section Division II tournament.

“I’ve seen some great golfers in Europe, like Kris Kim,” said Valiauga, who like Kim, played in Surrey County, England, and has competed in the European Junior Championships. “They play a high level of golf in the UK, but there were also some great golfers out here (at Peacock Gap) today. Marin Academy’s Charlie Wilhelm is one of the best.”

Charlie Hansen, the second medalist of the day at 3-over 74, led Marin Academy to a low 310 for a narrow victory over University, which posted a 320. University’s James Cheung shot a team-low 78 for the second-place Red Devils.

Stuart Hall (338) placed third, with the Panthers (352) fourth. International’s Peter Baldwin (75) was the tournament’s third individual medalist.

“I’m looking forward to the competition at NCS,” Valiauga said. “I’d like to see how good the other players are.”

The Wildcats who were undefeated in the regular season to win the BCL championship, took home a plaque and a silver cup as league and tournament champions. Their other reward? Aside from no practice on Tuesday, Marin Academy earned an automatic NCS qualifier.

The NCS D-II tournament is scheduled to be held Monday, May 12, at Foxtail Golf Club in Rohnert Park.

Hansen was the model of consistency as he birdied three holes and shot par on 10 others. Wilhelm and Dylan Siegal tied at 77 for Marin Academy, which got an 82 from Quinn McInerney and an 83 from Drayson Jaffee.

“We’ve created a team that wants to win,” Hansen said. “After losing to Marin Catholic in a tiebreaker at NCS last year, we’re ready to compete again. We’ve fought hard this season to get where we are.”

San Domenico’s Noah Penney shot a 92, followed by teammates Luca Alioto (94), Butchie Long (95), and Vincent Zhang (96).

The heat and the wind played havoc with players and marshals alike on the course.

“The wind here usually blows in a different direction, so that made things difficult,” Hansen, and several other players, said. “We had to work around it, play with the wind, and that helped.”

Valiauga fought through the wind and a difficult start after he was 3-over through the first three holes. An eagle on the long and narrow par 5 fourth hole proved to be just the boost he needed. Valiagua was 1-under through the next five holes and made the turn at even par.

The 6-foot-6 Valiauga took advantage of the generous green for a birdie on the par 3 10th hole. He sandwiched an eagle on the par 5 12th in between double-bogeys on the 11th and 13th holes, but was still solid enough to compensate for any miscues.

“My wedges were working really well, and my clubs were on fire on the par 5s,” Valiauga said.