Tesoro sophomore Gordon Neale and Valencia freshman Derek Castillo are both heading to Graniteville, S.C., this week to join an elite international field at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club, which is just a few minutes drive from the home of the Masters in Augusta, Ga.
“I can’t wait. Everyone I have talked to said it’s nothing like they have ever played in,” Neale said. “I am ecstatic to go … Hopefully, I can play well to make it a really special experience.”
Castillo and Gordon will be roommates during the tournament which begins Friday. The Junior Invitational might be the most prestigious junior golf event in the world and is often regarded as the Masters for juniors.
In Masters fashion, a blazer is awarded to the winner, only this one is gold, not green like the one Adam Scott took home when he recently won the Masters this month.
Neale earned his place in the 54-player field by qualifying for the U.S. Amateur last year. Castillo earned an invite because he was a Rolex Second-Team All America selection last season.
“My goal is to finish in the top five,” Neale said. “But winning would be good.”
Neale’s Tesoro teammate Jack Ireland recently topped the leaderboard at an AJGA tournament, posting a 4-under 68 in the final round at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont to win the Preseason Junior.
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
TRACK AND FIELD
Though he narrowly missed winning the 1,600 at Saturday’s Orange County Championships, Brea Olinda freshman Austin Tamagno put his name at the top of one the state’s most prestigious class records.
Tamagno set a freshman state record in the 1,600 by clocking a time 4:11.10 as he finished a close second to Villa Park’s Garrett Corcoran (4:10.95).
Tamagno’s time eclipses the time of 4:12.34 set in 2011 by Blake Haney of Stockdale High in Bakersfield.
His time is also the fastest ever for an American-born high school freshman runner. …
Newport Harbor senior Marty Taylor took home another shot put title Saturday, winning the event at the Mt. SAC Relays.
Taylor, the current state leader in the shot put, recorded the win with a throw of 59 feet, 10 inches on his second-to-last throw to defeat San Clemente junior Kelsey Benoit, who finished second with a lifetime best of 59 feet, 7 inches.
Taylor finished second in the discus with a throw of 183 feet, 2 inches.
– JASON EICHELBERGER
BOYS SOCCER
Keving Engesser, who helped lead Servite to the CIF-SS Division 1 championship match in March, has signed a letter of intent with Loyola Marymount. Engesser earned Trinity League first team and All-CIF second team honors as a midfielder this past season.
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
