Golf places second in Ocean League and begins preparation for CIF

Chase WohrleStaff WriterClosing its league season with an overall record 8-2, the Samo golf team is set to continue into the California Interscholastic Federation tournament [CIF] playoffs for both individual and team matches.In their recent team match on April 23, the Samo golf team lost to Culver City High School for the title of Ocean League champions by a single stroke.“If [Culver] would have had one more shot, we could have beat them on the comeback,” senior captain Danny Thomas said.With the loss coming at such a small margin, junior Vito Sipila assures that coming so close to victory only provides the extra incentive to try harder.“We all could have shaved a few strokes off of our scores that day,” Sipila said. “This motivated us to do well in CIF because we want to prove that we’re better than Culver, and beat them.”Despite this disappointment, Samo began individual CIF competition on April 30 and finished on May 3. Their second place position in league served them well.The April 30th round of individuals was held at Griffith Park on the Harding course of the conjoined Harding and Wilson Golf Courses. For Samo, Thomas shot a 76, tying him for the sixth and last place in the tournament. Collectively, Sipila and freshman Ryan Hicks shot 78, senior Jose Sepulveda and sophomore Matthew Sherman shot 79, sophomore Josh Lettiere shot 84, and Alex Sepulveda shot an 85. The top five, those who shot 79 or lower continued onto the May 3 match on the Wilson course.Samo had only one representative remaining in the final six to move on to regional finals; Vito Sipila, who shot a 73 and took fourth place in Ocean League.In addition, Thomas placed as the second alternative.“That means I would go in if two of those six pull out [of the competition],” Thomas said.Over the entire season, the golf team has grown significantly compared to last year’s team. The boys have placed well in the Ocean League, and are set to have a strong presence in the postseason in terms of team and individual matches. In addition to this, they have broken 400, twice.Breaking 400 is often considered a trait of a successful team. The term is derived from the averages of the top five players of one team, falling at 80 points or lower on an 18 hole course. Conversely on a nine hole course, this would be referred to as breaking 200, as the averages fall at 40 points or lower.After facing Saugus High School for the second time this season on Mar. 14, they broke 400 for the first time this season.“The boys have really come a long way from the start of the season and I think that’s why Samo is so prominent in the playoffs,” coach Bart Burdick said.cwohrle@thesamohi.com