Course Doesn’t Live Up to Its Name

Some of the section’s finest golfers faced an exacting challenge Thursday at Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier at the Southern Section golf individual finals.

Medalist James Oh of Lakewood recorded four birdies and one bogey to shoot a three-under 67 on the hilly, tree-lined, 6,412-yard course.

The last time the individual finals were played at Friendly Hills, in 1984, Scott Smith of San Bernardino shot 70.

Orange County’s best golfers were left muttering Thursday.

“That was the biggest struggle of my life out there,” said University sophomore Brian Sinay, the defending Southern Section champion who shot 73.

“There were some holes that were just Mickey Mouse,” said Foothill’s Nick Seymour, who shot a county-low 72 and finished fourth. “This course is so tight. I didn’t strike the ball well, but my putting was good.”

Servite’s Will Luciano shot 79 and said the course’s narrow, rolling terrain made it difficult, although weather conditions were perfect.

“It was an adventure,” Luciano said. “You didn’t know what to hit. It became a guessing game.”

Only two players shot par or better Thursday. John Leary of Culver City shot 70.

The tournament also served as a qualifying round for the Southern California Golf Assn. finals June 2 at the SCGA Members Club in Murrieta.

Brea Olinda’s Oh twins, Alex and Brad, qualified for the SCGA finals. Alex shot 74 and Brad 76. Servite’s Nico Bollini shot 75 and El Toro’s Donald Rhee 76 to qualify.

University’s Ron Won shot 74, but he and Sinay already had spots secured since the Trojans finished third at the section team finals to qualify.

Three Orange County golfers shot 77s and were involved in a five-way playoff for the three final spots at the SCGA finals.

Corona del Mar’s Chad Towersey and San Marcos’ J.R. Ruda birdied the 567-yard par-five first hole to secure two of the spots, but Marina’s Scott Osterhout three-putted for a bogey and dropped out of the playoff.

Santa Margarita’s Jimmy Pittenger and Los Angeles Brentwood’s Brad Shaw continued in the playoff to the 380-yard par-four 17th.

Although Pittenger hit the green in regulation, Shaw missed the green long but made a seven-foot downhill putt to save par and win the playoff when Pittenger three-putted.

“Those greens were confusing,” Sinay said. “If you’ve never played here before, I don’t think there’s any way you could break par.”