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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

CHINO HILLS – It happened about seven years ago in an SCPGA tournament, so Hunter Epson doubts Issei Tanabe even remembers what happened  the last time they ended up in a playoff.

Epson, though, definitely hasn’t forgotten. A loss has a way of sticking with a player for a while, even when it comes at the very beginning of a junior golf career.

On Monday, the they met again in sudden death showdown. And Epson, now a senior at Long Beach Wilson, exacted a bit of revenge on his rival from Mater Dei, winning the individual championship at the Servite Tournament after birdying the first playoff hole.

“This was one of my goals for the season,” Epson said. “I struggled last year.”

Both players posted a 2-under-par 70 to tie for first, but neither one hit a particularly good approach  during the playoff.

Epson was in the rough to the left of the cart path on the par-4 No. 1, the green 12 feet above his head and the hole 30 yards away. Tanabe’s second shot bounced through the green, leaving him in the rough with a downhill lie.

“But I did have a better chance than he did,” Epson said. “The green was pitched better for me. I would have been happy with a 10 footer for par.”

He got much closer than that, though, holing out for a birdie with his 60-degree wedge to win.  Epson, Tanabe and Andrew Fernandes, Epson’s Long Beach Wilson teammate, were the only players in the field to post a red number. Fernandes finished third with a 1-under-par 71. Dana Hills senior Clay Feagler placed fourth, shooting an even-par 72.

 “Starting off well is great, and this is a tournament that my (Long Beach Wilson) coach (Jeff Evans) has always wanted to win,” Epson said, “and we have never been able to get it done.”

Until this year.

 Epson was one of four Bruins to post a score in the 70s, and Long Beach Wilson shot a 373 to edge second-place Mater Dei by six strokes in the team competition at the tournament. Dana Hills finished third with a 384 followed by Loyola (389) and Mission Viejo (392).

“We are going to be great. I believe we have potential,” said Tanabe, who took his sophomore year off at Mater Dei to focus on AJGA tournaments. “I believe that if each and every one of us does our hardest work, then we will be able to win CIF.”

Five Monarchs broke 80 at Western Hills. Isaiah Aguirre carded a 75 for Mater Dei while Bill Rosenthal and Robert Drobka added a 77 and 78. Robert Campean carded a 79 for the Monarchs, who along with Dana Hills were the only teams in the tournament to have all five scoring players finish in the 70s.

“If we can dedicate everything this season to golf, then we will get there (CIF),” Tanabe said.


RESULTS

At Western Hills Country Club, Chino Hills, par 72

Individual Results

  1. Hunter Epson (LB Wilson) 70*; 2. Issei Tanabe (Mater Dei) 70; 3. Andrew Fernandes (LB Wilson) 71; 4. Clay Feagler (Dana Hills) 72; 5. Brandon Bueno (Loyola) 73

 

Team Results

  1. LB Wilson 373; 2. Mater Dei 379; 3. Dana Hills 384; 4. Loyola 389; 5. Mission Viejo 392; 6. Orange Lutheran 394; 7. Servite 398; 8. Los Alamitos 401; 9. La Canada 406; 9. Glendora 406; 11. San Clemente 408; 12. Santa Margarita 414; 13. JSerra 415; 14. Foothill 434; 15. San Juan Hills 436; 16. El Dorado 454