Pacifica’s Performance Raises Value of Garden Grove League

When Pacifica won the Garden Grove League title two years ago, the prep golf community didn’t pay much attention.

Even when the Mariners defended their title last year, hardly anyone outside the league noticed.

After all, the Garden Grove League has long been considered a weak league for golf, and the Mariners did little to disprove that notion by finishing 11th and 13th in consecutive Southern Section regional tournaments.

But the Mariners are raising eyebrows this year by regularly posting scores under 200. Last week, Pacifica shot 182 at Willowick and followed that with a 173 at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress. With other league teams struggling to break 220, the Mariners are a lock for their third league title in a row.

Coach Dean DePeri isn’t ready to proclaim the Mariners an upper-echelon team, but he hopes his improving squad can gain some respect.

“The Garden Grove League doesn’t seem to have the same value as other leagues,” DePeri said. “But I look at some of the other scores and I say, ‘Gosh darn it, we actually are competitive.’ ”

Playing the Navy Course with a 72.7 rating and a 126 slope, the Mariners are averaging 199 this season. Leading the way is junior Justin Ritchie, who is averaging close to par.

Jeff Moreno, Cory Glant, Jerry Podgajski, Sean Onodero and Ian Stirling round out a lineup in which only Glant is a senior.

“We’ve been getting better and better as the season goes on,” DePeri said. “When you get a couple of kids who are good players and have them around for a couple of years, the program kind of gets going.”

A BATTLE FOR BERTHS

The Southern Section freelance tournament scheduled for Monday at L.A. Royal Vista was rained out and has been tentatively rescheduled for May 2 at the same course, Southern Section Commissioner Jim Staunton said.

Tustin, Sunny Hills, Troy and La Habra are among the eight teams competing for three berths in the Central Regional tournament, which will be May 8 at Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning. The top five individuals also advance.

NO ROOM AT THE TOP

There doesn’t seem to be enough room in the top-10 poll for the number of quality teams.

Among the deserving yet unranked teams are Aliso Viejo, the only team to defeat No. 3 Newport Harbor, and Esperanza, which handed No. 4 Huntington Beach its only loss.

Corona del Mar, Canyon and Dana Hills can also make strong cases for a top-10 ranking.

WHAT A TANGLED WEB

The South Coast League continues to be the toughest in the county to figure out. San Clemente and Capistrano Valley began the season as favorites, but El Toro and Dana Hills took control. That is, until last week, when Dana Hills lost to Trabuco Hills and El Toro lost to Capistrano Valley.

The current standings: Dana Hills (6-2), El Toro (6-2), Capistrano Valley (4-3), San Clemente (3-4), Trabuco Hills (3-5) and Mission Viejo (1-7).

LOOKING AHEAD

Top-ranked Servite and second-ranked Santa Margarita meet Thursday at Los Coyotes. The Eagles hope to avenge their only loss of the season, a 188-190 setback on Coto de Caza’s North course.

In the nerve-racking match, Nico Bollini of Servite, one of the top junior players in the nation, bogeyed three of the first four holes. Santa Margarita’s Steve Conway, who has signed with UCLA, failed to make a birdie in a match for the first time this season and finished with a two-over-par 38.

Servite’s Ryan Cole started with six consecutive pars and finished at 37, and Bollini recovered from his poor start with birdies on three of the final five holes and matched Cole’s 37. Ryan Heidorn also shot 37 for the Friars. Ryan Carter shot 38 and R.J. Nones had a 39.

Servite will be looking for revenge when the Friars meet Calabasas today at the Calabasas Country Club. The Coyotes handed Servite its only loss this season. . . . Orange Lutheran and Calvary Chapel play today at Willowick with the Olympic League title on the line. . . . University and Corona del Mar will play for the Pacific Coast League title Monday.

If you have an item or idea for the boys’ golf report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at peter.yoon@latimes.com