A creek runs through the middle of the Dana Hills’ home golf course, out of bounds always lurks on the left and the wind swirls around the surrounding hills so that it is always gusting in a player’s face.
El Niguel Country Club is one of the most difficult tracks used in high school boys golf, and it seems to be particularly inhospitable to visitors.
“It is a very tricky place to play,” Tesoro coach Van Johnstone said. “And they (Dana Hills) are a really good golf team.”
The No. 2 Dolphins edged their South Coast League rival, 200-201, on Tuesday to extend their El Niguel CC winning streak to 13 matches dating to March 13, 2014.
Opponents are averaging 203.7 on the front nine at El Niguel CC this season, or slightly more than 23 over par. After Tuesday’s match, Dana Hills’ stroke average is 193.
“Man, I am still proud of my guys,” Johnstone said. “We gave them (Dana Hills) as good of a shot as anyone can here.”
Tesoro’s Jack Ireland and Robert Beard each shot a 2-over-par 38 and shared medalist honors with Tanner Podres and Clay Feagler, who carded the same score for Dana Hills.
“When we play here we expect to win,” Dana Hills coach Glenn Foster said. “But we didn’t have a great day. We are a couple steps off from where we were at the beginning of the season.”
Only two of the Dolphins’ five scoring players broke 40, and the 200 was 20 over par.
“Obviously, I am disappointed because I thought we had a good shot to beat them here this year,” Johnstone said.
No. 5 Tesoro is 0-9 at El Niguel under Johnstone.
“This is just El Niguel. Thank goodness we get them tomorrow at Coto,” he added.
Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com
