Santa Barbara’s Jack Perry and Laguna Blanca’s Niall Platt shared second place with two other golfers at the Northern Region CIF Indiviudal Championship on Monday, reserving a spot in next week’s CIF-ss Championship in La Hacienda.
The group all scored 3-under 68s at Sterling Hills Golf Course in Camarillo, two shots behind medalist Austin Reanef of Quartz Hill.
Perry came on strong in his final nine holes with three birdies and no bogeys. The Dons junior finished off his round on a 230-yard par 3. Using a 3-iron, Perry drove to within 25 feet and burried the putt to take a little momentum into this weekend’s City Golf Championship at Muni.
“Hopefully it carries over into the next round,” said Santa Barbara head coach James Bedard, who doesn’t think playing four consecutive days of competetive golf with the CIF Championship coming on Day 4 will have major effects on the young golfer. “That’s something the tour pros do. He’s come a long way in the two years I’ve been able to coach him.”
San Marcos freshman Thayer White also qualified for next week’s championships, needing a three-hole playoff to survive a musical chairs-like situation.
With 11 spots available, White was one of 12 golfers to card a 73, forcing a playoff that would eliminate only one. A bogey on the third hole ensured White’s spot.
“I was actually pretty relaxed the entire round, that’s why I think I did well,” explained White, who stayed away from any double-bogeys and chipped in for birdie on the 15th hole.
Santa Barbara’s Mason Field and Shane Lebow recorded matching 78s that ended their seasons. Field, the lone senior on the Dons team, will be playing golf at Cal Poly next season following his Channel League championship season.
It’s the second straight season Perry had advanced out of divisionals, where he placed tied for fifth last season.
