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Junior Anthony Cecere is part of a St. Margaret's golf team that appears to be playing its best at precisely the right time. Next up: the SCGA Regional tournament.
Junior Anthony Cecere is part of a St. Margaret’s golf team that appears to be playing its best at precisely the right time. Next up: the SCGA Regional tournament.
Damian Dottore. Sports. HS Reporter.

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

It was on the ride home from Desert Hot Springs earlier this month that the members of the St. Margaret’s boys golf team reminded their coach, Rocky Parker, about a bet he had made with them.

The Tartans had just taken care of their end of the bargain, finishing fourth at Mission Lakes Country Club by one stroke to qualify for the SCGA Southern California Regional in Pasadena for the first time in the program’s history.

It was time for Parker to pay up.

So before he drove the team back to the St. Margaret’s campus, Parker had to stop at Marbella Country Club. Once there, he went in and talked to the head pro, picked up four towels and took a big leap — into the lake at the golf course.

“Maybe that (bet with Parker) helped us keep focus that day at Mission Lakes; maybe not. It was definitely a motivational key,” senior team captain Robert Deng said.

In a way, junior Anthony Cecere said, when Parker took the plunge, the Tartans got to see their “success pay off.” He said it also made them reflect on how much hard work they have put in and what more they might accomplish.

Should the Tartans finish Thursday in the top three in the SCGA regional tournament at Brookside Golf Club, they will be headed to the CIF State Championships in Carmel.

Deng said the team is trying to approach the SoCal Regional with a “humble attitude.”

“In order to be successful, we have to keep our eyes on the prize,” said Deng, an 11-time medalist this season. “There’s no time for fooling around in practice. That way no matter what happens on match day, we can be proud of ourselves.”

Though St. Margaret’s is among the smallest schools (an enrollment of 440) competing in the regional, Deng and Cecere have grown quite comfortable competing on some big stages in their sport. The Harvard-bound Deng recently took part in a U.S. Open local qualifier at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc. In March, Cecere tied for eighth at the AJGA Heather Farr Classic in Mesa, Ariz.

“Most of us play out-of-school tournaments and getting that experience definitely helps a lot,” Cecere said, “and I think that has shown on our team.”

At Mission Lakes, four of the five players who figured into the Tartans’ final score broke 80. Deng, who set the school record for birdies this year (41) shot a team-best 2-under-par 69. It was the second event in a row in which Deng had the low score. He posted a 2-under 70 in a downpour at Talega Golf Club at the CIF-SS South Coast Team Regional.

Cecere’s stroke average in the two CIF team tournaments is 74.5, and James Frahm’s is 77.

“It felt like we were peaking at the right time,” Parker said. “This is rarified air for us. It is an awesome, historic moment for us. It is one that I hope the guys will remember because it is special.”

The Tartans began to show their strength during Academy League finals as Deng, Cecere, Will Morrison, David Freed and Frahm swept the top five places. Nine of their 10 combined rounds played over two days were in the 70s.

“But I don’t think we have had our best day yet,” Cecere said. “Hopefully that is soon to come at Brookside or the state championship if we are lucky enough to get there.”

Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com