New face steps up to lead Servite
CHINO HILLS - It sounded kind of strange when Servite coach Dan Jako said he has got more good golfers on this year's team, considering the Friars went 23-0 last season.
But now he is finding himself holding tournaments during the week to see who is going to be in the Friars' next starting lineup. Even medalists have found their way into these intra-squad matches.
"I have 10 guys that I can play this year. They are all so close to each other too," Jako said. "This year there are a lot more options for us. I have some really good young guys."
Like Tyler Smith for example. He birdied two of his last three holes on Thursday at Western Hills Country Club to finish with a 1-over 36 in his first varsity match, leading Servite to a 186-196 victory against Foothill.
His 100-yard up-and-down on the ninth hole, helped him become the co-medalist with Foothills' Max Holden, who also holed two birdies on Thursday.
"I started out pretty bad, and made two straight bogeyes," Smith said. "But I am play well right now, and hopefully, I can keep that going. We were just trying to do good ... and win today."
The Friars, Jako said, were a bit more focused for this nonleague match than usual. For one thing, the last time these two teams met, Servite only beat the Knights by two strokes at Tustin Ranch.
And then on Wednesday, the Friars lost for the first time in almost two years. Corona del Mar edged the Friars by three strokes, winning 182-185 at Newport Beach Country Club, a course on which the Friars has very little experience. Servite team captain Patrick Cantlay said that was the first time he had teed it up there.
"Some pretty crazy stuff happened. We didn't do enough to win, but we didn't lose it either. We weren't happy ... but what are you going to do," said Cantlay, who finished with a 2-over 37 on Thursday. "We didn't play well then and we didn't play well today either."
