Sunset League Survivors Sweep Section Divisional

Sure there were doubts about teams from the Sunset League, where parity reigned all season and final league records were less than impressive.

But in the Southern Section Southern Divisional Championship Monday at Los Serranos, Sunset teams showed that league victories were quality wins.

Esperanza and Huntington Beach shot 369 and 375 on the north course and finished first and second in the Divisional, earning the two available berths in the Southern Section finals Thursday at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club.

Edison, co-champions of the Sunset League, shot 376 and finished in a three-way tie for third with Long Beach Wilson and Brea Olinda, further justifying what Sunset League coaches have been preaching all year: Their league was deep and tough.

“This was just like our league,” said Esperanza Coach Al Safallo. “If we played again tomorrow, it could be anyone that wins this.”

Esperanza junior Jay Choe shot six-under-par 66 and was medalist for the tournament. He started with a birdie on the first hole and knew it would be a good day.

“That was a boost,” Choe said.

Mike Dunn also came up with a big round for the Aztecs, who finished tied for third in the Sunset League with a 5-5 record and had to win a playoff with Marina just to get in the playoffs.

Dunn shot 71, Scott Danforth shot 76 and Derek Sipe shot 77 as Esperanza set a school record for a team score.

Huntington Beach, which got a 69 from freshman Joey Benedetti and a 72 from senior Andy Anderson, shared the Sunset League title with Edison after each finished 6-4 in league play.

In the South Coast Divisional at El Prado, Santa Margarita shot 364 and Servite shot 365, and the Serra League rivals, as expected, claimed the two berths in the Southern Section finals.

Taylor Wood shot 69 for Santa Margarita, the defending section and CIF-SCGA champion. Nico Bollini and Zach Zehdner each shot 72 to lead Servite, which tied for second with Villa Park and won the sixth-man tiebreaker.

Ed McGlasson of El Modena was medalist with a 67.

In the other divisionals, Los Angeles Loyola and L.A. Brentwood advanced out of the Northern Divisional; Atascadero and Santa Barbara San Marcos qualified out of the Central Coast; Cerritos and Pasadena La Salle advanced out of the Central; Palm Desert and La Quinta advanced from the Eastern; La Verne Damien and Arcadia qualified out of the Western Divisional.

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

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BOYS’ GOLF TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’

Final Poll

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Pos. School League Rec 1. S. Margarita (1) Serra 14-2 2. Servite (2) Serra 8-7 3. Brea Olinda (3) Orange 16-2 4. Aliso Niguel (4) Sea View 12-4 5. El Toro (5) S. Coast 10-5 6. Cap. Valley (6) S. Coast 13-4 7. Hunt. Beach (7) Sunset 11-4 8. Esperanza (8) Sunset 11-4 9. Woodbridge (9) Sea View 11-3 10. University (10) Pacific Coast 10-3

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Last week’s rankings in parentheses