Arboleda Continues to CIF Individual Championship

Spartan standout Anton Arboleda finished in the top 30 golfers for the CIF Southern Section Northern Region on Monday in the first round of CIF competition, advancing the talented freshman to round two on his way to the state championship.

Arboleda shot a qualifying score of 73 at Sterling Hills Golf Club, while teammates Grant Higa and Ross Thompson fell just short of moving on to the next round.

“Anton loves the game, plays often, and has a lot of formal competitive experience,” said Head Coach Richard Tetu, who led the golf team to the program’s first undefeated dual match season since 1982.

The team finished with a 16-0 overall and 8-0 league record, sending senior captain Bobby Alves and senior teammate Geoff Weaver off with a great last season as La Cañada Spartans.

In addition, the team sent three players to the league champions individual competition.

Spartans Higa, Arboleda and Thompson were tied for the league championship and in a sudden death playoff match, Thompson, a sophomore, defeated his competition to capture the individual league title.

The Rio Hondo League sent three athletes to the CIF Southern Section Tournament, and all three spots were occupied by La Cañada golfers this year — the same three who had been tied for the league championship.

“This season has been extremely successful,” Tetu said. “Those three will all be back so I am looking to put together a challenging schedule for next year.”

Though the team as a whole did not advance past the first round of CIF Southern Section team play, the golf season continues with Arboleda now competing in the Boys’ Golf Individual Final next Wednesday, May 23 at the PGA Champions Course in Beaumont.