GOLF : SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : Estancia, Davis Get Handle on Third Consecutive Title

The long-handled putter most commonly seen on the Senior PGA Tour was the principal weapon for Costa Mesa Estancia High’s Ryan Davis in Monday’s Southern Section team golf tournament.

Using a putter that is 50 inches long and has two grips, Davis shot an even-par 70 at La Cumbre Country Club as Estancia finished with a five-man total of 382, good for an unprecedented third consecutive title.

“They’ll all be using 50-inch putters by next week,” Estancia co-Coach Art Perry said.

Estancia won despite losing its top two players from a year ago and being in the midst of what some hoped would be a rebuilding year.

“I think it’s a better team overall, depth-wise, than last year,” said Chuck Perry, who coaches the team with his brother. “But I don’t think the players believed it until last week.”

After finishing the dual-match season with a 14-2 record, Estancia last week shot 401 in winning the Southern Regional tournament, a qualifier for the team final.

Davis, a senior and the team’s sixth man, shot a two-under 34 on the front nine at La Cumbre. He bogeyed the first two holes, but birdied four of the final six on the front nine.

“I just started hitting it real close,” Davis said. “Of those four birds, two were tap-ins.”

His teammate Tim Pieper shot 75, followed by Chris Beck and Andy Rothman with 78s, and Paul Hinkle at 81. Estancia finished second at the SCGA tournament last year.

Long Beach Wilson finished a distant second at 395, followed by Palm Springs and Dana Hills, which tied for third at 396.

All four teams advance to the Southern California Golf Assn. tournament June 10 at Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano.

Westlake of Westlake Village, the Northern Regional champion, struggled to a 401 and fifth place. Newhall Hart, which won the Western Regional and was considered one of the tournament favorites, shot 404 and finished seventh.