St. Francis High golf caps spectacular week on course

By Charles Rich

April 17, 2014 12 AM PT

PASADENA — With its spring break about to begin, the St. Francis High golf team will enter its well-earned vacation having generated plenty of momentum.

After a brief slump, the Golden Knights appear to have turned things around as they look to advance to the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the second season in a row. The Golden Knights might reflect on this week as a turning point.

Nathan Han carded a one-under-par 34 to help propel host St. Francis to a convincing 183-211 Mission League victory Thursday against Chaminade at Brookside Golf Course No. 2.

St. Francis improved to 9-4, 8-3 in league. as it swept the two-match season series against Chaminade. St. Francis earned a 183-214 road win against the Eagles at Woodland Hills Country Club on Tuesday after capturing the Lompoc Easter Invitational on Monday at La Purisima Golf Course.

“We are starting to play more like I thought we would from earlier in the season,” said St. Francis second-year Coach Kyle Ostrom, the reigning All-Area Boys’ Golf Coach of the Year. “We are grinding it out pretty well right now and we are getting a different guy coming in after every round with a low score.

“Now, we go on spring break and it will be a great opportunity for them to spend time on the course practicing and looking to continue to refine their games.”

Han paved the way Thursday for the Golden Knights, who finished second in league last season. The senior recorded a pair of birdies after a slow start.

“I wasn’t really hitting it straight for my first five holes,” Han said. “Then, I was able to get up and down and I had some easy putts to make those two birdies.

“I think we’ve been improving after that tough stretch a couple of weeks ago. We know we have a group who can shoot low scores. We just have to stay with it and just be patient.”

The Golden Knights, who took sixth in the CIF Southern Section Central Team Divisional last season, received a 36 from Johnny Brandt, 37s from Michael Finney and Tommy Altmayer and a 39 from Michael Mozilo.

St. Francis will next compete in a league home match against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on April 30 at Brookside.

Follow Charles Rich on Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich .