Mater Dei stays undefeated ... barely

IRVINE - It was one of the highest scores that the Mater Dei boys golf team has posted this year, playing on a course that shouldn't have been much of a challenge for the No. 4 Monarchs.

This is the team after all that posted a school record at Santa Ana Country Club, which is much more difficult than Rancho San Joaquin where the Monarchs played Woodbridge.

Five of the six Mater Dei players who teed it up on Wednesday all broke 40 to help the Monarchs cared a 190, good enough to beat the Warriors by six strokes. That's the Monarchs' smallest margin of victory this season.

Woodbridge had the medalist as Cameron Ward holed three birdies to finish with a 1-under 35. Michael Haeri and senior Braden Cluck both shot a 37 to the lead undefeated Monarchs, who improved to 4-0 on Wednesday.

Consistency is a concern right now for Mater Dei coach Ollie Martin. This team has the potential to make a run at the championship in what might be the toughest league in the whole Southern Section.

The Monarchs finished first and second in the Diamondback Tournament on Monday in Apple Valley. Mater Dei fielded two four-man teams in the event at Spring Valley Lake Country Club, and Bryan Campbell posted a 4-under 68 for the Monarchs' winning team. On Wednesday, though, Campbell had a 3-over 39.

And earlier this month, the Monarchs beat Sage Hill, shooting a 184 at Santa Ana Country Club. That's the best a Mater Dei team has ever done at that course.  

"That was a great round ... and then we are up and down. I expected a 184 here today too," Martin said. "But they tell me the pin placements were pretty tough. We have got to start shooting in the low 180s everywhere to have a chance. Hopefully, we can start doing that."

Martin has moved two sophomores up from JV, Joey Caucas and Nico Mendoza, and both have the potential to make the Monarchs a championship-caliber team, Martin said.

On Wednesday, Causcas shot a 2-over 38, and in the Trinity League opener for the Monarchs, Mendoza finished with a 2-under 33 at Willowick as the Monarchs broke 180 in their victory against Orange Lutheran.

"If we could lower all of our scores by one, and give me 38s and 37s and two 35s, that is pretty good," Martin said. "That is what we are going to need to beat Santa Margarita and Servite."

In other matches Wednesday:

No. 2 Villa Park 175, Edison 191: Ryan Tetrault posted a score the likes of which are rarely seen in high school golf. Villa Park coach Chris Salio said it was a first for one of his boys golfers in the 18 years his teams have been playing at Green River Golf Course.

Tetrault carded a 7-under 29 on the front nine to lead Villa Park (5-3) to the nonleague victory. The Villa Park junior holed three birdies and two eagles during his round.

Corona del Mar 182, No. 1 Servite 185: Michael Moorehead shot a 3-under 32 at Newport Beach Country Club as the Sea Kings knocked off the defending CIF champion Friars.

This was the first loss for the Friars in more than a season. They went 23-0 in 2009 and opened this season 5-0.

In the Orange League:

Savanna 215, Western 226: Jordan Wines scored an eagle on the 258-yard par-4 No. 4 and medalist Ryan Del Rosario shot an even-par 35 for the Rebels (3-2-1, 1-1) in the victory over the Pioneers at Dad Miller Golf Course.