NEWPORT BEACH – It was the kind of round that Newport Harbor coach Scott Tarnow said would have beat just about everyone else.
But the Sailors teed it up against No. 7 Los Alamitos on Thursday, and the Griffins are one of those 1 percenters who can make Big Canyon Country Club look their home course, not Newport Harbor’s.
Connor Campbell, Jonathan Young and Daniel Gregory posted an even-par 36 for Los Alamitos to share medalist honors and help the Griffins beat their Sunset League rival once again at Big Canyon, 183-196.
Carter Norris led the Sailors (5-6, 1-2) with a 37.
All five players who figured into Los Alamitos’ final score finished in the 30s as the Griffins finished 3-over par as a team.
The Griffins have won their last three matches against the Sailors here, and after Thursday’s result their stoke average here is 185.6.
Big Canyon is among the toughest courses that the Griffins see, but Campbell said it “just seems to fit everyone’s eye.” Especially his.
Last year, Last year, Campbell carded 3-under-par 33, which broke the high school course record on the front nine by one stroke.
He holed four birdies on that day. On Thursday, though, he only hit four greens in regulation and had one birdie and one bogey on his card.
Last year, he said the greens were perfect. On Thursday, they had been sanded, and it took him 13 putts to get through the front nine, his lone birdie came on the 380-yard, par-4 No. 4.
Even though Campbell couldn’t match his 2011 performance, the Griffins still improved as a team as Thursday’s score was eight stokes lower. It was also the second match this week in which Los Alamitos finished in the 180s.
The Griffins, though, Campbell said aren’t playing up to their potential.
“No one has put it together all on the same day yet. It is kind of like an X factor. Maybe it will come later in the season, during CIF,” Campbell said. In 2011, The Griffins won the CIF-SS Central Team Divisional. “And if we all play good on the same day, we can definitely make a run.”
Winning that CIF tournament last year has given the Griffins plenty of confidence, Campbell said because their return just about everyone from that team.
But with the title came expectations … and lots of pressure.
“It’s having to back up what you did the previous season, and not let anyone done,” he said.
To repeat, though, Los Alamitos might have to work on its consistency
“We have been struggling a little bit with that. John (Lee) and Connor are obviously very solid,” Haygood said. Lee has had two sub-par rounds this week. “All of the other guys can shoot low scores, too. But I am waiting for all of them come in a say, ‘Here’s my 33. Here’s my 33.’ You know, that kind of round that I think they are capable of. We have shown some glimpses, but there is always that one (that comes in with a higher score). I know they are better than that.”
