San Marcos has a history of success in boys golf. Freshman Sam Metzger added a new chapter to the program’s success stories.
Metzger shot an even-par 72 to tie for eighth place at the CIF/SCGA Golf Championship at Pasadena’s Brookside Country Club and survived a six-player, 3-hole playoff to earn an individual berth in the CIF State Championships on Wednesday at San Gabriel Country Club.
The top nine individuals who were not on qualifying teams advanced to the state finals. Sage Casaga of Murrieta Valley was the leading qualifier with a 4-under par 68.
Metzger was one of five golfers to fill the remaining qualifying spots.
“This is a truely remarkable achievement considering he is just a freshman,” San Marcos coach Aaron Solis said. “He has had one of the best freshman campaigns of any golfer in San Marcos history. He is the first San Marcos golfer to qualify for the State Championship as an individual since the State Championship was reinstated in 2004. In that 2004 championship, San Marcos did qualify as a team and finished fifth in the state.”
Metzger made five birdies in regulation play, all coming on the front nine. He started on the back nine and shot 2-over par. After a double bogey on No. 5, he came back with a birdie on the par-5 sixth hole, parred No. 7, birdied No. 8 and finished with a par on No. 9.
The CIF/SCGA Championship included 124 golfers from the Southern, San Diego, Central and L.A. City Sections.
Westlake won the team title with a 371, beating Rancho Bernardo by one stroke. Mater Dei finished third at 373.
