Balance leaves Spartans standing over Titans
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE —It was the biggest match of the Rio Hondo League season for the La Cañada High boys’ golf team.
Instead of nerves, the Spartans got the same commanding victory they’ve been posting all league season and most of the year Tuesday with a 183-202 win over San Marino, which came into the match tied in league with La Cañada with a perfect league record.
“We had a rough start [this season] scoring-wise, but I am feeling pretty good,” said La Cañada Coach Richard Tetu, whose De Bell Invitational-championship team extended its winning streak to 10 matches. “I am getting close to saying this is the best team I’ve had here.”
It showed Tuesday, as La Cañada simply had too much depth for the Titans to handle at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club.
San Marino Coach Wyeth Collo isn’t overreacting about the result, though.
“My guys just didn’t play, I know they’re capable of playing better,” Collo said. “La Cañada just played a solid match and we didn’t match it. It’s just one match. We’ll see them at Santa Anita [Golf Course on April 26]. I think at home we have a good shot at them. We’re not too worried.”
Colin Morikawa led the Spartans to victory yet again as the freshman grabbed medalist honors with a two-under-par 32.
Morikawa credited the entire team’s performance for the great start to the season.
“We’re all playing good right now,” Morikawa said. “We have a ton of guys that can go low, so it’s good to have back-up sometimes.”
San Marino’s lowest score was a 36 from Ben Allen.
“He’s been solid pretty much all season,” Collo said of Allen. “He’s been our medalist nearly every match. He’s been consistently practicing a lot, he’s been working on the weekends and it’s paying off for him.”
Joshua Suh and Daniel Rhee both carded 36s for La Cañada, which also got a 37 from Noah Bernstein.
“Morikawa had another nice round,” Tetu said. “He’s under par for the season and Joshua Suh is probably right at par. …Rhee, Bernstein, Morikawa and Suh have been extremely consistent all year long.”
All that balance has Tetu optimistic for the rest of the season.
“Unless we have a grade problem or a kid gets lost on his way to the golf course, I fully expect to go 20-1 [in the regular season],” he said.
The Titans had Jack Shelton come in at 40, Brian Yao at 41, Andrew Doan at 42 and counted one of the 43s from Kevin Yang and Kyle Ko to round out their scoring five.
andrew.shortall@latimes.com