PREP GOLF : Riley Wins CIF Boys’ Title; Booth Is Girls’ Champion

Chris Riley of San Diego Patrick Henry High earned some much-needed rest and relaxation Monday when he won the 36-hole CIF/Southern California Golf Assn. Invitational title at the San Diego Country Club.

It was his second title in as many days--he also won the 72-hole San Diego City Amateur tournament on Sunday--and his fifth title in the past month.

“I’m on a Fred Couples roll right now,” said Riley, a senior who routed the field Monday with a six-under-par 138 over the par-72, 6,560-yard course at the San Diego Country Club. “But I’m tired. Seventy-two holes in three days is pretty brutal. I’m exhausted. I think it started to show those last four or five holes.”

Riley said his only regret was that Tiger Woods was not there to challenge him.

Woods, the defending champion from Anaheim Western, opted to play in a U.S. Open sectional qualifying tournament in Daly City.

Riley birdied four holes and added an eagle in the morning round, then came back with four more birdies in the late afternoon round to increase his string to 11 consecutive rounds of par or better.

Scott Richardson of Dana Hills was second, seven strokes behind Riley at 145. Eddie Lee of Corona was third at 146.

The girls’ and team titles were much closer.

Kellee Booth of Santa Margarita survived a five-hole tiebreaker with Eunice Choi of Laguna Hills to win the girls’ championship. Each shot four-over 78s during the regulation 18 holes.

Warren’s Hyun Choi--no relation to Eunice--was third with a 79.

Trabuco Hills won the team title, with five of six golfers combining for 391 strokes. Poway was second at 393, a stroke better than Palm Desert and three better than Santa Margarita.