NBL GOLF TOURNAMENT:NEWMAN'S EUPHRAT TOP MEDALIST:OTHER MEDALISTS INCLUDE MONTGOMERY'S ROGERS, MONTGOMERY'S LANDON

A windswept Rooster Run Golf Course challenged the North Bay League's best in the boys league finals to cap a competitive season Monday.

With Montgomery and Maria Carrillo heading to North Coast Section tournaments, likely joined by Ukiah, the league finals will decide other schools' top three individuals who will move on. The section golf committee sets the qualifier and Tournament of Champions fields Wednesday.

Nick Rogers of Montgomery shot a 74 to take the lead in the first group of golfers. Frankie Euphrat of Cardinal Newman came into the clubhouse later with the same score. Euphrat won the gold medal because he was a shot better on the back nine holes. The day's third medalist on was Julian Landon of Montgomery with a 79.

To shoot within range of par -- 72 -- on the windy afternoon was a solid showing, particularly because most of the golfers had not played Rooster Run much, if at all. The course, used by the Sonoma County League, was chosen as a neutral site.

"The wind was really bad. Sometimes you had to go up three clubs," Rogers said of using heavier sticks. "It was just hard to focus, to dial it in."

Already featuring creeks and other hazards, Rooster Run was a good test for the golfers moving on to play tougher fields and even more challenging courses. Playing an 18-hole round compared with 9-hole league matches also helps.

"The competition, courses, everything is tougher. It's just a bigger scale," said Javier Torres, the number one Ukiah golfer.

Toughest on Monday were holes six through nine and the final pair. The notorious afternoon wind kicked up as the first groups were completing the front nine.

Finishing in a wind alley with holes 17 and 18 going west to east forced golfers to adjust approaches, yet stay aggressive. On the final, par 5 hole, golfers must power balls through trees and over a creek to reach the green in three shots.