By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

WOODLAND – Brayden Dixon said he struggled with his game – in particular, with his chipping and putting – at Carlsbad High School.

That's not the case anymore for Dixon, now a freshman on the Napa Valley College men's golf team. Since the start of the season, he has put a ton of work in with his short game.

"I've really focused on that," said Dixon. "I did really good on those (Monday)."

Showing great touch with short irons around the green and also with his putter, Dixon put himself in red numbers on Monday, firing a sizzling 1-under-par 71 to finish in a tie for third place individually and helping lift Napa Valley to a fourth-place team finish at the California Community College Athletic Association-Northern California Regional Championships at Yolo Fliers Club.

Napa Valley, the Big 8 Conference North Division champion, is one of four teams advancing to the CCCAA State Championships, May 12-13, at Sandpiper Golf Club, in Goleta (Santa Barbara County). The Storm won seven tournaments during the conference season.

"Super grateful. Just grateful to be here. It has been a very fun year. Can't wait to play another (tournament) with these guys," said Dixon.

By shooting rounds of 73 and 71 for an even-par 144 total in the two-day, 36-hole, eight-team event, Dixon was one of six players to earn All-Northern California Regional honors. He was presented with a tournament medal.

"I'm very confident about my game right now. It's definitely gotten better over this season. I struggled in the middle of this season, but have definitely pulled it together," said Dixon, a 2023 Carlsbad High graduate, playing in the No. 5 spot in the Storm's lineup.

Dixon finished just one shot out of first place. The co-individual low medalists were Ryan Hodge of San Jose City College, 70-73 – 143, and Eliot Vidal of Reedley College, 69-74 – 143.

"It's awesome, being able to actually come out and shoot scores I know I can shoot, and to be in the Top-3 is pretty cool," said Dixon.

Napa Valley shot 388-381 – 769. Since Napa Valley and Sierra College-Rocklin finished regulation tied for third place, a tie-breaker was used, with each team's sixth-highest score determining the final placing.

The Storm's Markus Nanpei, the Big 8 North Division Most Valuable Player, finished tied for eighth place, shooting 74-77 – 151.

Tyler Momono tied for 16th, posting rounds of 79 and 76 for a 155 total.

Jaxen Perryman was 32nd, shooting 85-77 – 162.

Matthew Commander tied for 33rd, shooting 83-80 – 163.

Nick DeBellis also tied for 33rd, shooting 79-84 – 163.

Commander and DeBellis were each named Big 8 North Division All-Conference.

"So proud of the guys," said Storm coach Bob Freschi. "This was quite an accomplishment. Two returning guys (Nanpei and Commander). It's not easy to do. We're going to prepare this week for it. We're doing another road trip and it will be a fun one. I told them, 'It's not easy to make the states as a team. So, congratulations. So proud of you – grinded one out, (Sunday) and (Monday). You guys did it.' We're going to have a blast playing for a state championship.

"We qualified for the states, and that was our ultimate goal. But it had to be one step at a time. I feel like (Sandpiper) really fits our game better compared to a shorter, more narrow course like Yolo Fliers. We can rip driver; we can let it fly and spray it a little bit and we'll still be fine."

Dixon was masterful around the greens at Yolo Fliers Club, a par-72, 6,526-yard layout.

He holed out for an eagle-3 on the par-5, 523-yard first hole using a 60-degree wedge from 20 yards.

He holed out for a birdie on the par-3, 169-yard 12th hole from 10 yards out.

He made birdie on the par-4, 362-yard ninth hole, sinking a 30-foot downhill putt.

"I chipped really well. Got up and down a lot," said Dixon.

The game plan, he said, was to focus on his putting.

"Really just focusing on my speed for my putting, because that's what kind of hurt me (Sunday)," said Dixon. "I had a couple three putts. (The greens) were playing faster than I thought. So, I really wanted to make sure my speed was good.

"You've really just got to trust your line and trust your speed, because if you second guess anything, it's going to be a bad putt."

Dixon also birdied the par-4, 347-yard 13th hole.

Awards were presented to the top-3 teams. In addition to the four teams that advance, six individual qualifiers also move on to Sandpiper for the season-ending event.

Temperatures during the final round ranged from the mid-60s to the low 70s, with sunny conditions and light winds.

"That's huge by Brayden Dixon. What a great tournament. The only guy in red numbers today – fabulous," said Freschi. "He had a great calm about him this weekend. He has a ton of talent. He put it together and I'm so proud of him.

"His season had a lot of peaks and valleys, but it sure peaked at the right time, this weekend. What I try to get across to them, the lineup is just a number, and you're all No. 1's. That's how you're playing in your group. So, we just have that mentality. We all have talent on this team. And (Dixon) put it together, and it was such a pleasure to watch. He made some great shots today."

Reedley College won the title, shooting 374-380 – 754.

Fresno City College finished second, shooting 383-383 – 766.

Taking third place was Sierra College, 388-381 – 769.

Finishing in fourth place was Napa Valley.

"I'm just glad that we're able to go," said Nanpei. "It's going to be fun. I'm just grateful that we're able to go keep playing. We have a lot of guys here that are able to pull through and post good scores."

The NVC team played the State Preview Invitational on March 18 at Sandpiper Golf Club, in Goleta (Santa Barbara County), finishing in fifth place, in a field of 18 teams. The Storm posted a 394-team score. Nanpei fired a 3-over-par 75 and Dixon carded a 4-over-par 76 to lead the Storm.

"I think if we all play our part and play our game, we can easily have a run at it," said Dixon.

At the NorCals, San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton was fifth, 392-381 – 773. San Jose City College was sixth, 390-394 – 784.

Modesto Junior College was seventh, 391-402 – 793.

Taft College was eighth, 425-417 – 842.

Individual qualifiers for state:

* Ryan Hodge of San Jose City.

* Justin Kiester of San Joaquin Delta.

* Travis Winn of San Jose City.

* Brandon Pine of Modesto.

* Ty Salvador of San Joaquin Delta.

* Mason Davis of San Joaquin Delta.

Joining NVC's Dixon as individual medalists and also earning All-Northern California Regional honors:

* Ryan Hodge of San Jose City.

* Eliot Vidal of Reedley.

* Chase Foster of Fresno City.

* Justin Keister of San Joaquin Delta.

* Nathan Pappas of Sierra.

The event had a 48-player field.

* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.