San Marcos Rolls to Victory; County Is Shut Out

At the same time Santa Barbara San Marcos capped a nearly perfect season with another victory, one of the most disappointing seasons in recent Orange County golf history came to an end.

San Marcos, which finished the regular season 20-0 and set a tournament record in winning the Southern Section title May 10, shot 361 Tuesday at the SCGA Members’ Club in Murrieta and won the CIF-SCGA title by seven shots over La Costa Canyon.

Brandon Hillpot of Colton won the individual title by defeating Brian Edick of Newhall Hart on the first hole of a playoff. Each shot five-under-par 67 in regulation, finishing a shot ahead of Henry Liaw of Hacienda Heights Los Altos, Steven Eshback of Chula Vista Bonita Vista and Brian O’Flaherty of Westlake.

Defending team champion Santa Margarita finished third at 370 and Mike Rim of Sunny Hills and Zack Zehnder of Servite shot 70 and tied for eighth, tops among county individuals.

It is the first time since 1998 that county golfers have come up empty at the season-ending event and is only the second time since 1987 that a county team or individual has not won either a Southern Section or CIF-SCGA title.

“It’s a little disappointing,” said Santa Margarita Coach Andy Sulick, whose team shot a tournament-record 357 in winning the title last year. “We set our goals high and we define a successful season by how we do here.”

It is the second CIF-SCGA title in three years for San Marcos, which has won three total. The only blemish for San Marcos this season was a runner-up finish to Atascadero in the Northern Divisional.

The Royals avenged that loss when they shot 359 to win the section title by 16 shots. Atascadero shot 385 that day and did not qualify for the CIF-SCGA finals.

Kevin Larsen shot 70 Tuesday and Tyler Ley and David Siordia each shot 71 for San Marcos, which has four of its top six players returning next season.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” San Marcos Coach Ken Uchio said. “A lot of people saw that 359 and they didn’t think we were for real. The guys proved it was for real.”

Sulick said there was no shame in losing to San Marcos, which defeated Santa Margarita by two shots in a regular-season match this year.

“San Marcos has been the team to beat all year and they lived up to those expectations,” Sulick said. “My hat’s off to them. This is a defining win for them.”

Taylor Wood of Santa Margarita shot 72 and tied for 21st and Ed McGlasson of El Modena, Steve Bullock of Santa Margarita and Neno Boonyaplanun of University each shot 73 and tied for 25th.