Taft Paints City Golf Title Red

Resplendent in red, Taft High’s primary team color, first-year golf Coach Ray O’Connor waxed humble about the secret to his success.

“It isn’t really anything I do,” he said. “There’s not much coaching from me. Heck, these guys are all better than I am. I just point ‘em toward the course and let them play.”

Taft, which entered the second round of the 36-hole City Section finals with a tenuous one-stroke lead over North Hollywood, outplayed the Huskies by 29 shots at Griffith Park’s Wilson Course on Wednesday to win its sixth City golf title.

O’Connor seemed to blush nearly as red as his team jacket when questioned about his role in Taft’s fortunes this season.

“The real secret is to inherit a good team,” O’Connor said with a laugh. “And then to stay out of their way.”

Taft bulldozed past North Hollywood behind the play of seniors Marshall Solomon (80-75--155), Marc Riches (82-75--157) and Danny Greenberg (79-79--158). Juniors David Solomon (76-82--158) and Roger Makemson (81-82--163) rounded out Taft’s top five.

Taft finished with a two-day total of 398-393--791 to easily defeat North Hollywood (399-422--821) by a whopping 30 shots.

Both teams advance to the CIF/Southern California Golf Assn. finals at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village on June 8.

Defending champion Palisades (410-426--836), El Camino Real (406-446--852), Granada Hills (423-436--859) and Birmingham (411-455--866) rounded out the top six finishers.

Individually, North Hollywood’s Tac Tharp held on for medalist honors at 152. After an even-par 72 in the opening round Tuesday at Harding Park, Tharp wasn’t nearly as sharp but managed to limp in with an 80 to win the individual title by three shots over Marshall Solomon.

“That’s the highest competitive round I’ve had all year,” Tharp, a senior, said. “I wish I could have played a little better so it would have been more fun. I’m just glad it’s over.”

After playing the first four holes of the back nine 1-under par, Tharp double-bogeyed 14 and 15 before finishing with three pars to clinch medalist honors.

It marked the third straight year a North Hollywood player won the individual title.

Tharp, Riches, and Marshall and David Solomon made the All-City first team.

Birmingham’s Scott Sobel (79-84--163), El Camino Real’s Jason Gordon (77-88--165), Granada Hills’ Andy Chao (81-84--165) and Chester (80-78--158) qualified as individuals.