Star-Studded Lake Highland Tees Off with O.C. Teams

Santa Margarita and Servite have enjoyed the role of top teams in Southern California for the last two years, but they may soon find out what it feels like to be an also-ran.

The Eagles and the Friars are playing matches this week against Lake Highland Prep of Orlando, Fla., considered one of the best in the nation.

Ty Tryon, the 16-year-old who finished 39th Sunday at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, is a sophomore on the team. Christo Greyling, ranked No. 1 in the nation among boys, is a senior. Jason Cook, son of PGA Tour veteran John Cook, is a freshman. Two other teammates, seniors B.K. Suhr and John Reser, have signed with Division I colleges.

Santa Margarita plays Lake Highland at Coto de Caza today at 11. Lake Highland will play Palm Desert Wednesday at Desert Willow in Palm Desert.

On Saturday, Servite will take on the Highlanders at Virginia Country Club in Long Beach. John Cook, an assistant coach for Lake Highland, will conduct a clinic for the players at 11:30, and the match will follow.

“It’s going to be an interesting match,” Servite Coach Tim Meagher said. “Hopefully we’ll play better than we have been playing. I think they’re pretty good.”

Servite, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, lost to Esperanza, 390-392, last week. They were playing without top player Nico Bollini, who was playing in an amateur tournament in Argentina.

Lake Highland should prove quite formidable. They completed their season in the fall with a record of 50-2.

Their only losses came in the Class-A state championship tournament in which they finished third.

The school is in a session called a “mini-mester” in which all students take trips to enhance their life experience. Some are in Europe and Africa.

The golf team decided to come to Southern California in part because of John Cook’s ties to the area.

John Cook attended Miraleste (now Peninsula) High in Rancho Palos Verdes and was a longtime Rancho Mirage resident before moving to Orlando.

“It’s a chance for us to see and enjoy California,” Lake Highland Coach Jon Busch said. “We decided to look and see who had the better golf programs around and give the kids a chance to play with other kids from other parts of the country.”

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If you have an item or idea for the boys’ golf report, you can call (714) 966-5849 or e-mail peter.yoon@latimes.com

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BOYS’ GOLF TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School League Rec 1. Servite Serra 1-1 2. Santa Margarita Serra 0-0 3. Huntington Beach Sunset 0-0 4. San Clemente South Coast 1-0 5. Brea Olinda Orange 1-0 6. Capistrano Valley South Coast 4-0 7. Sunny Hills Freelance 1-0 8. Aliso Niguel Sea View 0-2 9. Villa Park Century 0-1 10. Orange Lutheran Olympic 2-1

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