PREP GOLF : Hoffman Tops Strong Field With a 67

Last year when Charley Hoffman of Poway High won the CIF-Southern California Golf Assn. boys’ individual championship, three of the best high school golfers, most notably Tiger Woods, were absent.

This time, however, there is no diminishing Hoffman’s accomplishment as he shot a five-under-par 67 Wednesday at Bernardo Heights Country Club to win the title. Mike Berg of Santa Barbara San Marcos finished second at 68.

In the girls’ competition, Corona del Mar’s Jenny Glasgow shot one-over 73 to win the title by a stroke over Torrance’s Julie Oh.

Woods is at Stanford, but Darren Angel of Granada Hills and Ted Oh of Torrance, who were trying to qualify for the U.S. Open last year, teed off with Hoffman.

“I think the field is a little better than it was last year, and I’m proud of that,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman became the first player to win two CIF-SCGA boys’ individual titles. Phil Mickelson won as a junior in 1987 but couldn’t repeat.

Del Mar Torrey Pines won the team title for a record fifth time, shooting nine-over 369. Clovis West was second at 371 and Westlake Village Westlake third at 378.