Fountain Valley’s Kung Sets Record

Fountain Valley made a big splash in its first CIF-SCGA finals.

Junior Candie Kung started the day right, shooting a tournament- and course-record seven-under-par 65 to win the girls’ individual finals Tuesday at the SCGA Members’ Club.

Kung broke the event’s previous record of 67, set last season by Palm Desert’s Nicole Dalkas from the red tees on this 5,355-yard course.

Then Kung went out with her teammates for the afternoon round and shot four-over 76 from the blue tees on the 6,722-yard layout to help the Barons finish a surprising third.

“We went from a team that couldn’t even finish third in its own league to a team that finishes third in state,” Fountain Valley’s Jeff Greenfield said. “It’s nice to see all of our hard work pay off. But we didn’t expect this.”

Many expected Kung to challenge for the girls’ individual title, but nobody expected anyone would win in such a runaway.

Kung finished five strokes ahead of Hwan Hee Lee of Cerritos, Becky Lucidi of Poway and Hana Kim of Los Angeles Brentwood, all of whom shot two-under 70s.

Woodbridge’s Yon Yim, who has signed with USC, was in a group of five players who tied for fifth, shooting 72.

“I just didn’t putt well,” said Yim, who won the Southern Section title in 1996.

Putting wasn’t a problem for Kung. In fact, in the still, morning conditions, she didn’t encounter many problems. Kung had seven birdies and no bogeys, hit all 18 greens in regulation and missed only one fairway.

“I was in awe of what she was doing out there,” Fountain Valley Coach Don Terranove said. “I don’t think she realizes how good that 65 is. I mean, it was boring golf. Fairway, green, putt-putt. Fairway, green, putt.”

Kung and Yim tied Redlands East Valley’s Gina Umeck for medalist honors at the Southern Section finals, but Umeck defeated both in a playoff. But Tuesday belonged to Kung.

“People talk about being in a zone,” Terranove said. “Well, she was just there . . . the whole round.”

Palm Desert’s Brett Bockmann also played well, shooting a three-under 69 to win the boys’ individual title and lead the Aztecs to the team title at 369.

Clovis West was second at 379 and Fountain Valley third at 381. Greenfield and Eric Hird led Fountain Valley by shooting 75s.

Brea Olinda’s Alex Oh turned in the lowest score in the county, shooting a two-under 70 to finish second.

“And the last three holes I had birdie putts that I missed,” Oh said.

Notes

University’s Brian Sinay shot 72, but bogeyed his final two holes to tie for sixth. Teammate Ron Won shot 73 for the Trojans, who shot 386 to finish fifth. . . . Servite freshman Nico Bollini also shot 72. Foothill’s Nick Seymour (75), Brea Olinda’s Brad Oh (75), Corona del Mar’s Chad Towersey (76), El Toro’s Donald Rhee (77) also played in the individual finals. In the girls’ individual finals, Brea Olinda’s Jeri Costello had the third-best round from an Orange County player, shooting 73. Sunny Hills’ Lynne Chiao and Mission Viejo’s Carla Legaspi shot 78s and Woodbridge’s Channing Lovejoy shot 79. Cypress’ Lisa Choi (81), Villa Park’s Shelly Raworth (81), Capistrano Valley’s Jennifer Tunzi (81), Valencia’s Nikki Glowin (85), Edison’s Lauren Brown (86), Mission Viejo’s Brianna Keiler (86) and San Clemente’s Nicole Bloch (88) also competed.