HIGH SCHOOL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP : Riley Has Early Lead in Individual Meet

A day after leading Patrick Henry to the team championship, Chris Riley took a two-stroke lead in the San Diego Section Individual Golf Championship after Tuesday’s opening round.

Riley, who transferred to Patrick Henry from Madison last fall, shot a 68 on the par-71 Oak Glen Course at Singing Hills in El Cajon in his quest for his second individual title.

Riley, who will attend Nevada Las Vegas in the fall, won the 1990 individual championship and was the runner-up last year to Coronado’s Brian Smock.

Last year, Riley jumped to the lead after the first round, only to lose the title by two strokes to Smock, now at Texas El Paso. Riley’s two-round total last season was 143.

On Tuesday, his 68 was two strokes better than Dean Wilson-Garbutt of Valhalla and Matt Christenson of Rancho Bernardo. Torrey Pines’ Pat Perez and Bonita Vista’s Geoff Goldstein are tied for fourth at par.

Keep in mind, Wilson-Garbutt’s advantage of attending school near Singing Hills.

“I just don’t want to make any mistakes out there,” Riley said going into the tournament. “If I just stay under par, just play my own game, I think I can win.”

So far, Riley has done well. He shot a par 72 Monday at Eastlake Country Club to lead Patrick Henry to its first team title in 22 years.

While at Madison, Riley helped the Warhawks to the 1989 team title.

The 108 players in the section title competition begin play today at 7 a.m. on the Willow Glen Course at Singing Hills.