SOUTHERN SECTION GOLF REGIONAL : Huntington Beach Surprises El Toro and Trabuco Hills

The Huntington Beach golf team upstaged Orange County’s high school golf powers Monday to win the Southern Section Southern Regional and become the top qualifier to the sectional team championships.

Huntington Beach had been expected to challenge for one of the three berths in the section championships next Monday at Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs, but Trabuco Hills and El Toro were the favorites to win the competition.

However, the Mustangs and Chargers, who were tied for the No. 1 ranking in the midseason coaches’ poll, faltered and Huntington Beach seniors Trent Fenzl and Scott Gibson shot 72 and 73, respectively, on the par-72 El Dorado Park Golf Course to lead the Oilers to a 387 total. Trabuco Hills, second at 391, and Estancia, third at 393, were the other teams to qualify from the regional.

Estancia, which has won three consecutive Southern Section titles, received a bit of a scare, but sub-80 rounds by seniors Paul Hinkle (73), Chris Beck (76) and Andy Rothman (79) were enough to make up for the Eagles’ lack of depth.

“We’re a struggling team trying to get better,” Estancia Coach Art Perry said. “But the younger guys are starting to improve.”

El Toro, the only county school to go undefeated in dual matches this season, finished fifth at 399. Irvine was fourth at 398.

Angelus League champion Santa Margarita was the top qualifier in the Western Regional at Los Angeles Royal Vista Country Club in Walnut. Jason Hewitt was the medalist, shooting two-under 70 for Santa Margarita, which had a 378 total. Santa Margarita had five players shoot 79 or below, including Ted Cordova (72).

Western’s Tiger Woods, who won the Southern Section and CIF--SCGA individual titles last season as a freshman, had the low score at El Dorado--a two-under 70. Western, the third-place team from the Orange League, finished sixth with 400 points.

Woods was the only player under par. Mark Christensen of Trabuco Hills and MArk Redford of University each shot 72.