In the fall of this year, the Santa Ynez girls golf team did the same thing.

The Santa Ynez golf program’s feat ranks as the No. 8 Times sports story of 2024.

The Santa Ynez boys team won the 2024 D2 title at the par 72 Lemoore Golf Course May 6. Sophomore Von Gordon led the Pirates with a 73.  Gordon took the individual title with a par on the first playoff hole against Mission Prep’s Luke Montoya.

The Pirates shot a team score of 413, edging second-place Templeton by one stroke. Mission Prep finished  third in the field of 15 teams at 419.

Actually, Sara Ovadia and John Nicholas have presided over a four-peat. Ovadia is the veteran head coach of the Santa Ynez boys and girls golf teams. Nicholas is Ovadia’s assistant coach. The coaches guided the Santa Ynez boys and girls golf teams to a 2023 Division 2 title. 

Ovadia has repeatedly praised Nicholas for his work with the Santa Ynez golf teams. After the girls squad won the D2 title last fall Ovadia said, “Coach John (Nicholas) and I were very impressed with how focused the girls were.

“They trusted their preparation and never gave up on themselves on the golf course. They all battled back after facing adversity in their round.”

The Santa Ynez girls squad won the 2024 Division 2 title at Valley Oaks Golf Course in Visalia Oct. 29. Santa Ynez shot a team score of 483, five-strokes ahead of second-place Atascadero which finished at 488.

Mackenzie Phelan led Santa Ynez to the team title with a score of 87. She finished tied with Halee Sager of Lompoc for fifth place individually.  

Cabrillo came in fourth in the team scoring at 522 and Lompoc was a stroke behind in fifth at 423. There were 10 scoring teams in the tournament.

Katherine Becerra and Sierra Freedman both carded a 95 for the Santa Ynez girls squad. Addison West shot a 96, and Savannah Hudley rounded out the Santa Ynez scoring with a 110. Kay Caplan also competed for the Pirates. Caplan shot a 112.

The Pirates repeated as Division 2 champions with a late surge at the Division 2 tourney.

“Mackenzie eagled her last hole,” said Ovadia. “Katherine birdied her final hoe to shoot her lowest tournament score ever,” for Santa Ynez.

“Sierra birdied her second-to-last hole and had a very solid round,” said Ovadia. “We were all very excited to be repeat champions and to follow the example the boys team set last spring.”

Brayden Mlodzik followed Gordon in the Santa Ynez boys team scoring at the Division 2 championship tournament with a 79. Mlodzik, a junior, tied for eight place individually.  

Cody Armenta and Marcelo Andrade both shot an 83. Armenta and Andrade tied for 17th place individually. Ernesto Suarez rounded out the Santa Ynez team scoring with a 95. Sep Perez, Santa Ynez’s sixth golfer, carded a 99. 

Everyone on the 2024 Santa Ynez Division 2 championship girls golf team returned from the 2023 team. Gordon, Mlodzik, Andrade and Armenta all played for the 2023 Santa Ynez boys squad.