Swinging into season

Bryce Alderton

The recent swoon of warm weather blanketing Orange County makes

for near-ideal golfing conditions, and players on Orange Coast

College’s team have taken advantage. OCC has begun the season 1-1,

eyeing another trip to the Southern California championships.

The Pirates finished sixth of eight schools at last year’s

Southern California competition, building on a ninth-place finish the

season before. The top four teams qualify for the state championship.

“Get to (the Southern California championships) and let the chips

fall where they may and try to qualify for State,” said Coast coach

Barry Wallace -- entering his sixth season coaching the Bucs -- when

asked about the team’s goals this season.

“All nine players are probably stronger as a group than I’ve had

before,” Wallace said. “They are all very competitive.”

Leading Wallace’s charge will be sophomores Jake Allanach (Newport

Harbor High) and Kelly Wicks along with freshman David Kendall

(Woodbridge).

Wicks, Allanach and Kendall finished 1-2-3 for the Pirates in

their second-place finish at the two-day Orange Empire Conference

Tournament earlier this week.

“Our top three have the ability to go on and play at four-year

schools,” Wallace said. “(Wicks) and (Allanach) play tournaments in

the offseason, are good students and will do well (at a four-year

school).”

Fredrik Svanberg -- Coast’s No. 1 player a year ago -- now plays

golf for UC Berkeley after one year with the Pirates.

“We could have had him on our team but it’s only going to help

promote kids to go on,” Wallace said. “Things work out for the best

anyways.”

Sophomores Brad Champion and Ryan Peaslee alongside freshman Jared

Bruce, Jason Hethcoat and Shaun Vickers add to Coast’s arsenal, which

Wallace said has a deft short-game touch.

“Players are working on their short game, which is one of the

reasons why we are scoring so well,” Wallace said. “We have a good

teaching and coaching area and we use that a lot.”

Wallace refers to the practice area located next to LeBard Stadium

on campus that includes 10 tee mats, a filming background board,

video equipment for players to record their swings, putting green,

sand bunker and hitting net. The Pirates, along with students taking

golf classes, have each honed their games using the two-year old

facility.

Coast golfers play Costa Mesa Golf & Country Club for

nonconference home matches while using Santa Ana Country Club in

conference play.

“(Santa Ana CC) is a gorgeous facility, one of the best in the

state and we are happy to be there,” Wallace said.

Coast either practices or plays five days a week, with a stern

commitment from everyone.

“Golf is very demanding on their time,” Wallace said. “With five

guys playing, you can spend six or seven hours on the golf course.”