SOUTHERN SECTION GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS : Westlake Accepts Challenge, Slogs to Second-Place Finish

As the Westlake golf team drove to Sandpiper Golf Course early Monday morning, a steady rain was turning the oceanfront course into a swamp.

“I was looking forward to it,” said Westlake senior Brandon DiTullio. “It was a challenge. It’s fun to play a course when it’s as tough as it gets.”

DiTullio, the Marmonte League individual champion, and his team survived the challenge, finishing in a second-place tie with Torrance, four strokes behind Southern Section champion Placentia Valencia.

Defending champion Sunny Hills, which finished fourth at 398, was the final team to advance to the CIF-Southern California Golf Assn. tournament June 7 at Bernardo Heights Country Club in San Diego. Santa Margarita finished fifth (404) and La Verne Damien and Santa Barbara San Marcos tied for sixth (405).

Only 19 of the 90 players in the 15-team tournament cracked 80 on the 6,600-yard layout. Four were from Westlake, more than any other team.

Junior Alex Kuyumijian shot four-over-par 76, including par 36 on his back nine. DiTullio, who has accepted a scholarship to play for UCLA, and junior Ross Fulgentis shot 78 and junior Matt McCrite shot 79. Senior Hiroshi Kawashima, who shot 84, had the final Westlake score that counted.

Buena, the other area entrant, shot 421 and finished 12th.