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Damian Dottore. Sports. HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

It’s not often that freshmen can make an impact on a varsity team, but two first-year boys golfers are turning Beckman into a championship contender in the Pacific Coast League.

Playing in strong, gusting wind at Tustin Ranch Golf Club on Monday, Everton Hawkins carded a 1-over-par 37 on the front nine while his teammate Jin Jen added a 39 to help the No.10 Patriots beat defending PCL champion Corona del Mar, 187-196.

“They (Jen and Hawkins) have been all the difference for us,” Beckman coach Penn Bushong said. “We always have four guys that can play, but when you add two guys that can always go in the 30s that is huge. They are great kids.”

Johnny Hyunh holed two birdies to shoot a 1-under 35 and earn medalist honors for Beckman. Four Patriots (10-2, 4-2) broke 40 on Monday as sophomore Brett Robinson posted an even-par 36 after eagling the par-4 fifth hole. He drove the green and then drained a 30-foot putt that had to travel up two tiers on its way to the hole.

Chase Wheatley and Drew Hanson both shot a 2-over 38 to lead Corona del Mar (8-5, 2-3).

Corona del Mar has been playing on the road for almost a month because its home course, Newport Beach Country Club, recently played host to a Champions Tour tournament.

During that span, the Sea Kings lost three of the four PCL matches that they played. That, Corona del Mar coach Mike Starkweather said might be taking a toll on the team had Corona del Mar not posted a rather impressive score at the Champions Invitational last week.

The Sea Kings were one of only two county teams to finish in the top 10 in the tournament in Indio, equaling the score (911) that last year’s undefeated PCL-championship winning team posted in the 54-hole event in the desert last year.   

“That really helped them because we fired some good rounds out there,” Starkweather said. “I brought that to their attention today.”

The Patriots have won all seven matches that they have played at Tustin Ranch this season, averaging 186.6 in those nine-hole rounds at their home course.

“The chemistry on this team is awesome. We have a great group of kids and we have a lot of fun together,” Bushong said. “Their potential is just so much. This was a great score today. They wanted it. They worked at it and they were determined.”