Golf Coach’s Protest Settles a Score

When North Hollywood High Coach Lyle Reeves left Harding Golf Course at Griffith Park at the conclusion of the City Section 5-A League golf championship Wednesday, he was not in a good mood. His team, according to his score card, had been swindled.

A misunderstanding with league manager Joe White of Granada Hills--whom Reeves engaged in a high-volume discussion after the tournament--ended with White in agreement with Reeves on the scoring system used in the tournament. And when the smoke had cleared, Palisades and Taft still finished 1-2, but North Hollywood moved past Granada Hills into third.

The only problem was that Reeves was not around when White changed his mind. He learned of the revision Thursday from a reporter.

“I’ve seen this happen too many times,” said Reeves, the North Hollywood coach since 1968. “Too, too many times. It’s not unusual, it’s not unique. It’s the same old story--a lack of communication.”

There was no problem understanding Reeves’ complaints Wednesday, which were delivered at the top of his lungs. Because of a scoring oversight, North Hollywood was not initially allowed to use the score of sophomore Dan Hayes, who shot 80 to finish tied for fifth in the individual competition. During the regular season, the 5-A League counts the best five scores from a seven-man team, a format Reeves assumed would be applicable at the tournament.

White, however, was counting the best five scores from a six-man squad and had selected Hayes as the non-scoring member from the North Hollywood team before play began. Reeves said he was not consulted about either change.

White, however, later decided to include Hayes’ score in the Huskies’ team total, which according to White’s now-official numbers jumped North Hollywood from fourth at 426 to third at 410. Palisades finished first at 408, followed by Taft at 409. Granada Hills (423) placed fourth, followed by Birmingham (429).