Locals have good day on their home turf
DE BELL GOLF COURSE -- For more than four decades, the annual Burbank
Men’s Golf Club High School Invitational has been the premier local
boys’ tournament for Burbank and Burroughs highs.
Played at De Bell Municipal Golf Course -- the home venue for the
Bulldogs and Indians -- the event has provided local players with a
chance to shine in their own backyard.
However, in recent years, Burbank and Burroughs have had limited
-- sometimes very limited -- success in their own invitational.
That changed Thursday at the 42nd installment of the tournament,
as the local players held their own against a field of 92 golfers and
23 teams from 15 schools.
The event was broken down into three flights, with the best
golfers competing in the A Flight.
“It’s nice to finally see our teams do well,” Burroughs Coach Mike
Krose said. “It’s been a long time.”
Although the Burbank and Burroughs players had to take time out
from their spring break to take part in the competition, most of the
athletes were happy to be playing.
Danny Barber of Burbank said he doesn’t like to put unnecessary
pressure on himself, even on his home course.
“There’s no pressure unless you put pressure on yourself,” he
said.
“I just try and go out and play good golf, and hopefully have some
fun. It’s also great to play against some other teams than the
Foothill League teams.”
Burroughs’ Chris Roseli said he enjoyed the break from league
competition.
“In a tournament like this, whatever you shoot only lasts one day
and people don’t remember how you did days from now,” he said. “But
in league, what you shoot stays with you for the whole season.”
Said Burbank’s John Goglia: “I’m really glad to be out here today
because I just got new clubs and I’m trying them out and getting used
to them.”
Along with individual success, Burbank came through with a fine
showing in the team competition, as the Bulldogs finished fifth with
a combined score of 322.
Crescenta Valley finished as the top team in the competition with
a 309, edging out Pasadena La Salle (312), Notre Dame (314) and South
Torrance (317).
Coach Rich Sarquiz and his team also picked up a first-place
plaque, as the Bulldogs won the Gene Mauney Memorial Award for low
gross between Burbank and Burroughs. The Indians combined for a 348.
The Bulldogs were aided by a fine performance from Con O’Connor,
who shot a six-over-par 77 to win the B Flight, and Barber, who
placed second in the A Flight with a 72.
Teammate Brian Ko shot a 79 in the A Flight, Goglia had a 94, Matt
Chrzan had a 97 and Andy Mouron had a 101 in the B Flight and Steve
Winn and Ben Runco had 92s in the C Flight.
Although Burroughs finished out of the top spots in the team
competition, the Indians did have the best golfer of the day.
Freshman Jeff Looby fired a one-under-par 70 to not only win the A
Flight, but to also finish as the low-gross winner of the tournament.
Looby was consistent over the course of 18 holes, shooting 35 on
the front nine and 36 on the back nine. He pared 11 holes, had four
birdies and just two bogeys.
“I really didn’t hit the ball very well today,” Looby said. “But I
was able to scramble well and I think my putting helped me get out of
some problems.
“I like playing in this tournament because you get to play against
players from other schools that you normally don’t get to play
against.”
Krose said Looby winning the top award in the local tournament is
fitting.
“[Rich Sarquiz] and I have been watching Jeff come up here to De
Bell and play since he was just a little guy,” Krose said. “He has
really put in a lot of work and he is dedicated to his golf game.
It’s nice to see him be successful.
“I’m just glad I’ll have him around a few more years.”
For Burroughs, Roseli shot a 90 and David Hamanaka had a 93 in the
B Flight and Austin Radaker had an 84, Paul Lundquist had a 95, Jesse
Gass had a 98, Mitchell Johnson had a 106 and Jeremy Balan had a 111
in the C Flight.