Maloof punches individual ticket

GLENDALE — Midway through his final round of the Mission League individual finals, St. Francis High senior golfer Richie Maloof sensed that something good might happen.

Maloof just needed to make a few more birdies and he would earn a top-seven spot that would qualify him for the CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament.

Maloof came through when he needed to, as he carded a one-over-par 73 on Wednesday at Griffith Park’s Wilson Golf Course. Maloof finished with a two-round score of 145 and will next take part in the individual tournament, which will begin at 1 p.m. May 16 at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo.

“My round was good, but it could have been much better,” said Maloof, who opened the tournament Tuesday by firing a one-over-par 73 at Harding Golf Course in Griffith Park. “I went into the tournament with a positive mindset and I just had to go out there and stay focused and worry only about my game.

“It’s great to be moving on.”

Maloof, who will attend Glendale Community College in the fall, had five birdies and seven pars Wednesday. He birdied the seventh and eight holes before closing out with a birdie on 18.

“It’s a nice honor for him,” said St. Francis Coach Jeff Durfee, whose team finished 3-9 in league for fifth place. “I’m so happy for him.

“I felt like he had a shot to shoot close to even par.”

Dylan Crowley of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame finished with a 70 for a two-round score of 137 en route to winning the league crown. Harvard-Westlake’s Bakari Bolden had a 75 for 143 to take second.

Vince De Pinto of St. Francis notched a 76 on Wednesday to finish ninth with a 151. De Pinto will be the second alternate from the field.

“I’m real proud of Vince and he’s going to get better,” Durfee said. “All in all, we did pretty well in the tournament.”