GOLF REGIONALS : Santa Margarita Dominates, Winning by Six Shots

To show how dominating Santa Margarita was at the Southern Section Southern Regional team golf tournament Monday, consider the score that didn’t count toward the Eagles’ total.

Sean Lim’s five-over 77, surpassed by only 20 of the 150-player field, wasn’t low enough to make Santa Margarita’s top five as the Eagles shot 12-over 372 to win the competition by six shots over Valencia.

Servite finished third, four shots behind Valencia. The top three advance to the Southern Section team championship next Monday at Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta.

Santa Margarita, the overwhelming favorite going into the tournament, had played a match at El Toro Marine Base on Friday, so the course was fresh in the Eagles’ minds. Friday, they shot 382 from the blue tees; Monday from the white tees, shortening the layout about 300 yards to 6,468, they tore it up.

Bryan Walley, a junior who had to win a playoff with a teammate last week just to make the lineup, was the Eagles’ low man, shooting one-under 71, his first under-par 18-hole round of the season.

“Anyone on our team on any given day can shoot this round,” Walley said. “I had two or three up and downs, but other than that, it was pretty boring, which is the way I like it.

“I’m just really happy--I’d like to get that point across.”

Sophomore Kelly Craig shot 74 and junior Tucker Brown 75 and juniors Greg Pittenger and Steve Wagner each shot 76.

Valencia, which last week swept the Orange League’s four spots in the Southern Section individual championships, also showed its depth. The Tigers had four golfers in the 70s--seniors John Lee (72), James Wooley (74) and Chris Porter (75) and junior Bruce Campbell (77). Freshman Dalen DeMary shot 80.

Two years ago when Lee, Wooley and Porter were sophomores, Valencia missed qualifying for the section championship by five strokes. This time, they left nothing to chance.

“It’s a one-day tournament and the guys did it on the most important day of their high school golf careers,” Valencia Coach John Winek said.

Servite, which breezed to the Golden West League title, also had four golfers under 80: Jeff McGraw (74), Case Barnett (74), Adam Ainbinder (77) and Will Luciano (77). Mike Lauder shot 80.

El Toro, which was playing on its home course, finished fourth at 390, eight shots back of Servite. Jesse Hayden shot 75 for the Chargers.

El Modena, the third-place team from the Century League, finished a surprising fifth with 394, led by medalist Sean Brocklebank’s two-under 70. Brocklebank and Walley were the only players under par.

In the Central Regional:

Sunny Hills wins--The Lancers finished with 380 to win by 18 shots at Sun Lakes in Banning and advance to the finals.

Jenny Lee was the medalist for Sunny Hills, shooting a three-over 75. Teammates Terry Noe, John Park and Francisco Chung tied at 76.

La Verne Damien finished second at 398. Cerritos was third with 412.