1996 Prep Golf Preview : Six Teams to Watch : Santa Margarita

Coach: Tim O’Hara (second year).

1995: 18-0, 10-0 in the Sea View League; won the Southern Regional, finished fifth at the section final.

Key returners: Tucker Brown, Sr.; Kelly Craig, Jr.; Jimmy Dunn, So.; Nicholas Fritz, Jr.; Greg Pittenger, Sr.; Steve Wagner, Sr.; Bryan Walley, Sr.

Key newcomers: Nate Blauer, Jr.; Brad Meer, Jr.; Jimmy Pittenger, So.

Outlook: One measure of the Eagles’ depth last year was that their eighth man, Fritz, finished fourth in league and advanced to the CIF-SCGA tournament as an individual. Expect more of the same. The Eagles’ top five players, including league champion Craig, are back and Blauer, a strong player who transferred from Oregon, should challenge the leaders. Wagner, who as a freshman in 1993 helped the Eagles to a CIF-SCGA title but has struggled in postseason play since, is playing well--he narrowly missed qualifying for the Nike Tour event in Moreno Valley. As if this group needed an advantage, the team regional will be played at the Eagles’ home course, Coto de Caza.