Chris Wong led the Royals on Thursday at the SCGA Qualifier. (Presidio File Photo)
Led by Chris Wong’s 75, San Marcos finished third as a team on Thursday at Mission Lakes Country Club in Desert Hot Springs to advance to next week’s SCGA Championship.
The Royals came in behind Westlake (375) and Palm Desert (388). The top four teams, which includes Loyola (399), qualified out of 14 teams.
Bennett Reichard’s 76 was second-best for the Royals, which won the CIF-ss Central Coast Division Championship on Monday for the school’s first CIF title in boys golf since 2004. That same year was also the last time San Marcos advanced to the SCGA Championship.
Senior captain Niels Andersen carded an 80, Chad Visser totaled 81, and Channel League individual champion posted an 83.
Scores were high due to consistently high winds in the desert.
“This team just knows how to grind it out and keep competing, no matter what the conditions are. They are becoming a great team by depending on each other,” said Royals head coach Aaron Solis. “On Monday, Sam led us in scoring. Today, Chris Wong led us by shooting one of the low scores of the day. We call him C-Wong. Today he became C-Money. Bennett Reichard ‘s 76 was instrumental in helping us advance. It was a very tough day with tough competition and tough conditions. I am proud of all of them.”
The SCGA Championships are at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena next Thursday. The event brings together the top teams from the Southern Section, LA City Section, San Diego Section, and Central Section to compete for three spots in the CIF State Championships on June 3 at Poppy Hills GC in Pebble Beach.
