Cho advances to CIF
ARCADIA — Before the season began, Andrew Cho inquired about becoming a member of the Crescenta Valley High boys’ golf team.
But Cho needed some work on his overall game to improve his chances of making the up-and-coming squad. Once he refined his technique, the results started to show.
Cho likely enjoyed his finest moment of the season Wednesday afternoon after he shot a seven-over-par 78 at the Pacific League individual final at Santa Anita Golf Course and grabbed the seventh and final spot to advance to the CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament.
The senior, who recorded two birdies, finished the season with a league score of 383. He entered Wednesday’s round in fifth place with a 305 after carding a 78 on Tuesday at the same venue.
“I had to go out there and take advantage of the chance to move on and I had to play with consistency,” said Cho, who birdied the third and 12th holes and earned all-league recognition. “My iron shots worked well and I had to keep going out and playing the way I’ve been lately.
“It’s special to be moving on to CIF.”
Cho was the lone representative from Crescenta Valley to move on. Cho will join Arcadia’s Kevin Chen, Bryan Shin, Anthony Pidlaoan, Andrew Baek and William Oetojo and Evin Davis of Pasadena in the individual tournament, which will begin May 14 at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo.
Crescenta Valley Coach John Pehar, whose team finished second in league behind Arcadia and will participate in the CIF Southern Section Northern Team Divisional on Monday at Soule Park Golf Course in Ojai, said Cho progressed from match to match.
“He came to me and said he wanted to play,” Pehar said. “I knew he could play, but he struggled through the beginning of the season.
“It’s good to see him keep improving. I’m glad we will have somebody representing us [at the individual tournament].”
The Falcons received a 74 from Adrian Chia, a 77 from Paul Park and a 76 from Patrick Kallas. Chia finished with a two-round score of 392 for ninth place, Park took 10th (395) and Kallas was 15th with a 412.
Chen carded a 78 and won the league individual crown with a 366, followed by Shin with a 76 (371) and Davis with a 76 (377). Oetojo and Baek posted 73s and Pidlaoan finished with a 78 to put them all at 382. Oetojo won in a card off with a lower score on the 11th hole to grab fourth place. Baek took fifth with a lower score on the back nine over Pidlaoan, who was sixth.
Kelsey Danzeisen of Burroughs fired a 74 to place eighth with a 388. Danzeisen, a reigning All-Area honoree, will be the league alternate.
Chris Kesicbasian of Burroughs carded a 78 to finish 11th (400). Burbank’s Brady Dunayer recorded an 88 to take 13th (410), followed by Sean White of Burroughs with an 81 for 14th place (411), Roman Verciglio of Burbank with a 79 for 409 (15th place) and Andy Chung of Burbank with an 81 for 16th (426).
