Fountain Valley Gains SCGA Finals

Orange County teams didn’t have enough firepower to topple favored Palm Desert in the Southern Section Team Championships golf tournament Thursday at Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs.

Palm Desert shot an eight-over-par total of 368 on the par-72 course to finish six strokes ahead of second-place Long Beach Wilson.

However, the county did provide one of the day’s big surprises.

Fountain Valley, which had never qualified for the Southern California Golf Assn. team finals, did so this time, finishing fourth at 378, three strokes behind third-place University.

Fountain Valley Coach Don Terranove nervously paced as the scores came in before he received official word that his team would advance to the SCGA Finals, which are June 2 at the SCGA Members Club in Murrieta.

“I didn’t do anything,” Terranove said. “This is great for the kids.”

Jeff Greenfield and Ryan Robertson shot one-over 73s to lead the Barons, who got a big lift from No. 5 player Eric Hird’s 76. Candie Kung and Todd Dieudonne shot 78s for Fountain Valley.

University’s Ron Won shot 70 to finish in third individually, one stroke behind co-medalists Jun Lee of Palos Verdes Peninsula and Charlie Smith of Newhall Hart.

“I knew this course,” Won said, “and [knew] that putting would be very important. So I prepared for that.”

The extra putting practice paid off. Won said he made a 40-footer for birdie on the 192-yard fourth hole that got him going. In all, he made four birdies and two bogeys.

Teammate Brian Sinay shot par 72 and Ryan Miller added a one-over 73 to lead the Trojans.

Although Servite’s Will Luciano was bothered by the flu, he was three-under after four holes and finished with a 72. But the Friars missed the SCGA finals, finishing seven strokes behind Fountain Valley at 385.

Santa Margarita, which won the SCGA team title last season, finished tied for sixth at 384 with Hart. Ryan Dwight and Dave Hawkins, the Nos. 5 and 6 players for the Eagles, each shot 74s.

Vince Poncino shot 74 for Mission Viejo, which had a 405 total and finished 18th. Brett Dolch shot 75 for Los Alamitos, which wound up tied for 11th in the 24-team field at 392.