Hart’s Wyman Finds Enough Motivation to Win League Final

Ryan Wyman’s competitive juices weren’t flowing at their usual level on the second day of the Foothill League individual golf finals at Harding Golf Course in Griffith Park on Wednesday, but the Hart High senior still shot a two-under-par 70 for a winning two-round total of 142.

On Monday, the league granted Wyman an entry into the Southern Section Northern Regional individual championships at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara on May 17 because he posted the lowest four-round total in previous league matches.

He could have skipped Wednesday’s round but decided to play after shooting an even-par 72 on Monday to help Hart (42-1-1) clinch its 10th league title in the decade.

“I played pretty well,” Wyman said. “It was hard to stay focused because it really didn’t matter what I shot, but I tried to play like it was a regular tournament.”

The Long Beach State-bound Wyman had a chance to finish with a 69, but he missed a three-foot birdie putt on the par-five 18th hole.

“I was a little upset about that,” Wyman said. “I should have made that putt.”

Wyman, in his fourth varsity season, had three birdies and one bogey in the round.

He bogeyed the par-four third hole, but birdied the par-five seventh, the par-four 12th and the par-four 17th.

He was among four Hart players to advance to the Northern Regional, which will include five players from the Foothill.

The others were senior Jeff Siembieda, who finished second with a two-round total of 151; freshman Brian Edick, fourth at 153, and sophomore Andy Smith, fifth at 154.

Freshman Mike Vahoviak of Burroughs placed third with a 152.

Wyman could be plenty busy in the weeks ahead.

Hart will compete in the Western Regional team tournament at Los Angeles Royal Vista Golf Course on Monday. A top-four finish would advance the Indians to the Southern Section team championships at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc on May 13.

A top-four finish there would qualify Hart for the California Interscholastic Federation/Southern California Golf Assn. championships at the SCGA Members’ Club at Rancho California in Murrieta on June 8.

Wyman is expected to advance from the Northern Regional to the Southern Section individual championships at Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs on May 20.

A top-seven finish at the Northern Regional would send him to the CIF/SCGA tournament for the first time.

Wyman will play in a U.S. Open regional qualifying tournament at La Purisima on May 18.

“I could be missing a lot of school in the next few weeks,” he said, smiling.