LOMPOC – By La Purisima Golf Course standards the wind was rather calm Monday, feeling more like a gentle breeze than the wild, unforgiving 20 mph gusts that usually blow in the afternoon.
So conditions were just about ideal to post a low score. But La Purisima still proved to be quite a challenge as only five players in the CIF-SS Individual Championship field finished under par.
Some, though, took advantage of the rather benign weather, such as Rico Hoey of Rancho Cucamonga and Fountain Valley senior Andre Vu.
Hoey won the tournament with a 3-under-par 69, while Vu ended up in a three-way tie for third with Brandon Tsujimoto (Damien of La Verne) and Justin de los Santos (Chaminade of West Hills) after shooting a 1-under 71.
De los Santos took home the third-place plaque after carding a two-putt par on the second playoff hole, the 145-yard, par-3 17th. Vu put his tee shot in the bunker and walked off with a bogey.
Despite losing the tiebreaker, Vu still qualfied for the SGA Regional on May 30. The top 28 individuals and four teams Monday advance to the state qualifier at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena.
“To be honest, I am disappointed,” said Vu, who was 3 under par at one time during his round.
“(De los Santos) had to chip in … and that just killed my mojo.”
The chip-in occurred on the first playoff hole. Vu looked as if he had the playoff wrapped up as he was the only one to reach the green on the 387-yard, par-4 18th in regulation.
Two putts later, Vu had his par. After punching out to the fairway, de los Santos landed his third shot pin high in the rough about 15 feet from the hole, but he chipped in for par to force the second playoff hole.
Putting, Vu said, was key for him, and Orange Lutheran senior Blake Barens earned his 4-over 76 on the greens too, needing 29 putts to complete his round. His ball striking could use some improvement, however, as he hit just eight greens in regulation.
“That’s worse than I thought. I know what I need to work on. Putting saved me,” said Barens, the reigning Trinity League champion.
Barens made the cut, which was at 78, as well as Dana Hills freshman Clay Feagler (74), Servite’s Martin Manalo (75) and Corona del Mar’s Chase Wheatley (76).
Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com
