Santa Margarita cruises to victory at JSerra Invite
MISSION VIEJO - For the past few season, teams entered Trinity League play feeling a bit defeated. Servite and its loaded roster was going to dominate again. They would, sometimes finishing undefeated.
"But I think we have something for them. This is our year," Santa Margarita senior Kevin DeHuff said. "We have a really solid one, two and three. And the other guys have been stepping up too lately."
Monday's inaugural JSerra Invitational is good example. The Eagles cruised to a two-stroke victory, finishing with a 64 at the par-72 Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club. Each school had a three-man team with the lowest score on each hole being used to figure the final score.
Andrew Levitt led his team, eagling the par-5 No. 7 and went out in 33 and posted a 1-under 71 Levitt also had three birdies during his round. DeHuff carded a 76 while Drew Bradley finished with an 82 after, birdying his team's last hole of the tournament, the 200-yard par-3 fourth.
DeHuff and Levitt both drove the green on the par-4 No. 6. They were playing from the shorter blue tees, though.
"We just went out and tried to make as many birdies as we could, and we knew that if one guy got in trouble there were two other guys there to pick him up," DeHuff said. "We just went into this wanting to have a lot of fun. It is nice to come out and win."
Aliso Niguel finished second with a 66 after Mark Jensma fired a 69, which was the low round of the day. The Wolverines' junior had four birdies and a bogey and shot a a 34 on the front nine.
Sammy Cole, who has medaled in three of the four matches he has played this year, posted a 72 while Patrick Collins, the third man on the team, had a 76.
"I am more consistent this year. I feel like I can shoot low every time that I go out there and play," Jensma said. "I definitely think we are the best team in our league. We are much better and we should be able to make a run at CIF."
He might be right as Cole and Jensma do give the Wolverines a very steady one-two combination.
Last week Cole went three under on the front nine at Aliso Viejo Country Club, shooting a 34.
"I have really improved a lot since last year. I have been working very hard on my game," Cole said. "I am more consistent and more accurate. I am keeping the ball in play more. I have a lot of confidence going into league. Mark and I have always battled for No. 1, but this year the focus for us is the team because we feel our team can do very well this year."
