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Orange Lutheran’s boys golf team continued its ascent Thursday by advancing to the CIF/SCGA SoCal Regional championships for the first time.
The Lancers made the history by carding an even-par 360 for a top-four finish at the SCGA Regional Qualifier Tournament at Temecula Creek Inn Golf Course in Temecula.
Only the top-four schools advanced to the SoCal regional final at Los Serranos Golf Club on Thursday.
Orange Lutheran started its week Monday by capturing its first CIF-SS title by edging Portola in the Division 3 team final.
Remarkably, the Lancers won the section crown and advanced to the regional final after placing third in league behind Servite and Santa Margarita.
“Just a testament to how ridiculously tough our league was this year,” Orange Lutheran coach Darren Kelso said. “I am just so happy for my players. They have worked so hard. They are the most unified team I have ever had. They truly root for each other at all times.”
On Thursday, the Lancers hung with Division 1 teams San Marcos (358), Palm Desert (360) and Oaks Christian (363) to join the top-four and emerge as the last Orange County squad standing in the postseason.
Junior Nick Davis paced Orange Lutheran with a 4-under-par 68, which tied the transfer from Dana Hills for fourth in the CIF-SS Individual Championships also held Thursday.
Davis played a bogey-free round in tying with San Juan Hills’ Bradley Smolinski and Dana Hills’ Nick Fry in a group behind champion Max Emberson of Oaks Christian (64).
Orange Lutheran’s top-five scorers also included freshman Junlin Pan (71), junior John Karges (72), senior John Rasmussen (74) and senior Cooper Nelson (75). Junior George Kridner added a 75.
Next week, the Lancers will need a top-three finish to advance to state.
Reigning SoCal regional champion Tesoro finished 10th with a score of 373. Anaheim Discovery Christian (366) and Santa Margarita (371) placed fifth and ninth, respectively.
Senior Alex Wu and sophomore Peter Oh each shot 69 to lead Anaheim Discovery Christian.
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