Boys golf: Eagles’ Baker finishes ninth

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - Junior golf is booming if the 12th annual Tribute To

Youth Golf Tournament is any indication.

The event, started and organized by Estancia High golf coach Art Perry

and his brothers, Chuck and John, featured 231 kids Thursday at Costa

Mesa Golf & Country Club, where players were raving about the conditions

at the Los Lagos and Mesa Linda courses.

That only a dozen Southern California junior players were unable to

attend the golf tournament out of 243 registered, at this time of year,

is remarkable.

But Chuck Perry said the quality of the golf course is a drawing card,

while players receive trophies and several donated prizes and gifts,

including tickets to Disneyland and Magic Mountain.

“This golf course is in the best shape ever and the kids can’t say

enough about the greens,” Chuck Perry said. “This golf course probably

gets the most play in Orange County, because the prices are low and the

quality is high, and the people you work with are the best.”

For some members of the Estancia High golf program unable to pay entry

fees, the Tribute To Youth Golf Tournament represents a time where they

can play on the house in a competitive environment. There are about 50

players in the Estancia golf program this summer, Art Perry said.

The event is sanctioned by the Southern California Golf Association

and draws players from throughout the Southland.

Pete Baker, who will be a senior in the fall at Estancia, led all

local players in the event with a 4-over-par 76, finishing ninth overall

out of 57 players in the boys 16-and-over division.

Joey Mueller, also an Estancia senior in September, shot 77 and placed

10th in the field, while Corona del Mar High’s Robert Ury shot 80.

Jason Cassidy, Estancia’s top returning player, is playing this week

at the American Junior Golf Association Invitational in Oklahoma.

Henry Aguila of Downey won the boys 16-and-over division in a

four-hole playoff against Woodbridge High’s Billy Moon and Michael Tran

of Laguna Hills. Tran was eliminated after the first playoff hole, while

Moon three-putted on the fourth playoff hole as Aguila secured the

hardware. Holes 10, 11, 12 and 13 at Los Lagos were used in the playoff.

After 18 holes, the three players finished tied at even-par 72.

In the boys 14-15 division, James Lee of La Mirada shot 1-under-par

71, the lowest score of the day, to win. Minnie Choi (Sunny Hills) shot

4-over 76 to win the girls 15-and-over championship.

“The girls field is getting bigger and bigger,” Chuck Perry said.

John Perry said 49 girls registered to play (along with 194 boys).

The tournament experienced its biggest turnout two years ago when 273

players registered.