Eagles Soar Past Friars in Golf

Santa Margarita, which had faltered in three previous Serra League meetings against top-ranked Servite, produced one of the best rounds in school history and defeated the Friars, 177-187, Wednesday at Coto de Caza’s South course.

Juniors Taylor Wood and Sean Heath each shot two-under 34 for the No. 2 Eagles. The three-under team total is seven strokes off the school record and could reestablish Santa Margarita as the top team in the county.

“Last year we got killed by them,” Wood said. “This time we were out to win.”

Santa Margarita Coach Andy Sulick said he hopes the victory will help settle a season that has been somewhat turbulent.

“We’ve kind of been all over the place this season and we never knew how we would play day to day,” Sulick said. “Hopefully this will carry into the next couple of weeks.”

Wood had only two pars in his first seven holes, a stretch that included two birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on the 502-yard par-5 seventh, where he hit his approach shot to within six feet.

Nico Bollini shot 35 to lead Servite, despite bogeys on the final two holes. Ryan Cole and Jordan Nasser each shot 36 for Servite, which lost despite shooting seven over par.

“They threw a number at us,” Servite Coach Tim Meagher said.

Servite (8-7, 4-1) must defeat Mater Dei today to share the league championship with Santa Margarita (14-2, 5-1).