Southern Section Golf Championships : Valencia’s Tidland Wins Title, Edging Brea’s Claborn

Chris Tidland of Valencia High School won the Southern Section individual golf championship Monday with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole at Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs.

Tidland, a junior, beat Kevin Claborn of Brea-Olinda. Claborn had won the Orange League championship as a freshman in 1986 and Tidland won it this season. Claborn made par 4 on the playoff hole.

Tidland was as low as 2-under-par in the round. He was 1-under-par when he made a bogey on No. 17. He had a par on 18 to finish at par-72, tied with Claborn.

There were nine players tied at 73--Bying Park of University, Edwin Lee of Palos Verdes, Steve Plummer of Millikan, Scott Richardson and Mike Bestor of Dana Hills, Jerry Chang and Charlie Wi of Westlake, Jim Burke of Damien and Bill Bue of Palm Springs.

The top 22 golfers in the tournament qualify for the Southern California Championships June 12 in Bakersfield.