SOUTHERN SECTION GOLF TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP : Depth Helps Estancia Win Unprecedented Third Straight Title

All season, Estancia golf co-coaches Art and Chuck Perry have predicted the Eagles would survive the graduation of two of the best players in the Southern Section.

Monday, the team made good on the Perry brothers’ prophecy, overwhelming the competition to win its third consecutive section team championship at La Cumbre Golf and Country Club.

Estancia totaled 382 strokes, 32 over par, on the sprawling course at Hope Ranch. The Eagles’ score was 13 strokes better than second-place Long Beach Wilson. Dana Hills and Palm Springs, which tied for third at 396, advance with Estancia and Wilson to the CIF-SCGA team championships June 10 at Marbella Golf and Country Club in San Juan Capistrano.

Estancia, which became the first team to win three consecutive Southern Section titles, won with its depth, the factor the Perrys say might make this team their strongest yet.

A solid nucleus remains despite the graduation of Ken Calvert, The Times’ Orange County player of the year in 1990, and Austin Maki, who won the CIF-SCGA individual championship last year.

That was evident, Monday, when only 22 of the 90 players broke 80. Four Estancia players shot 78 or better.

Senior Ryan Davis, who didn’t even make the Eagles’ final six golfers the past two seasons, had the best round of the day at even-par 70. It was three shots better than the next-best score by Eric Lohman of Palm Springs.

Tim Pieper shot 75 and Chris Beck and Andy Rothman each shot 78 for the Eagles. Paul Hinkle shot 81.

Davis credits the improvement in his game over the past two weeks to a switch to a longer, pendulum-style putter.

His 76 at Mesa Verde last week in the Southern Regionals, which Estancia won, was solid, but Monday’s round, which included five birdies and five bogeys, was consistent. Davis shot one-under 34 on the front nine and one-over 36 on the back nine.

On the 18th, his putt for birdie and a 69 rimmed the cup and rolled out.

Davis missed his team’s previous trip north to play the La Cumbre course in March because he was sick. The Perrys, who weren’t able to schedule a match with San Marcos at the time, paid $480 for seven players and Chuck Perry to play the course. The practice round, which was played in a driving rain, enabled Perry to compile a crib sheet offering hints for each hole, which he distributed to each player before Monday’s competition.

“Where the sheet told me to hit it, I was hitting it,” Davis said. “I hit 14 greens, I think. So I was playing really well.”

Dana Hills, which finished second last season, hung on to a berth in the CIF-SCGA tournament despite its No. 1 player, Scott Richardson, shooting 81. Vern Edler, who shot 74, and Dan Buchner (76), picked up the slack.

Huntington Beach, which tied Dana Hills for second place at the Southern Regional, dropped off the pace and finished ninth at 405. Scott Gibson and Grant Callaghan each shot 77, and the Oilers’ low four scorers averaged 79 between them. However, the other two, including No. 2 player Trent Fenzl (91), averaged more than 90.

Sunny Hills, which finished first in the Central Regional, was 11th at 411. Richard Son was one of three players tied for third at 74.