“Winning the MCAL title means everything,”- Barry Liu '26.

Liu shot a 6-over 78, the third-best score of the day. The team earned the ticket to the North Coast Section Division II tournament in Arcata at Baywood Golf and Country Club on Monday. For a while, it looked like his score might be enough to give Marin Catholic the title. Then the scores from the Branson School were posted in a flurry and everything changed.

Drew Kalafatas '27 turned in a solid 9-over 81 and Carl Smith '26 recovered on the back nine for a 12-over 84. And then came their teammates came in with three of the four lowest scores of the day, as Branson finished at 399 to edge Marin Catholic by two strokes.

“I’m excited for NCS,” Liu said. “The level of competition in the field is incredible, so it should be a great tournament.”

The Bulls’ Kai Sarker shot a stellar 5-over for the second-best overall score to edge Liu, and Lucas Davenport tied for fourth at 7-over 79.

“I wanted to enjoy myself this year, since this my last MCAL season,” Liu said. “I’m incredibly proud of this team. Everyone in the lineup stepped up.”