Study hall in session for Newport Harbor

Bryce Alderton

The Newport Harbor High boys golf team will get a chance to be a part

of one of the year’s most closely-followed stories in golf when it

travels to Hawaii during spring break.

The Sailors are scheduled to play two match-play events on the

island of Oahu April 7-10 against Punahou, where 14-year-old Michelle

Wie plays on the boys team. Wie, an amateur, shot even par over 36

holes in her PGA Tour debut at the Sony Open in January, missing the

cut by one stroke.

Playing alongside one of the game’s rising stars could give

Newport, 1-1 as of March 4, even added ammunition for a team that

returns six from the Sea View League’s fourth-best team a year ago.

“This should be a competitive year. Every match could come down to

a few shots here and there,” said Newport Coach Scott Tarnow, in his

fourth season with the program but first as the solo leader. He

shared duties the last three years with Marianne Towersey, who still

coaches the girls team in the fall along with Tarnow.

The Sailors feature three seniors -- all returning lettermen --

and include Michael Benvenuti, Michael Vackar and David

Motschenbacher, a three-year varsity member.

Motschenbacher grew about seven inches to his current 6-foot-1

height since his freshman year, Tarnow said.

Juniors Davis Pemstein (captain), Brandon Sowers and Rhett Palmer

all return to give Newport a formidable lineup. Pemstein was

Newport’s Most Valuable Player last year.

Both Sowers and Pemstein show a mental toughness when they are on

the course, Tarnow said.

“Davis is the most consistent,” Tarnow said. “[Sowers] doesn’t get

intimidated by any shot. He just jumps back out there and usually

comes through like a money player.”

Junior Chris Willard makes his varsity debut and has grown to 6-2.

“He is also learning his new body [like Motschenbacher],” Tarnow

said.

While having quality golfers is every coach’s dream, Tarnow places

special emphasis on academics.

The Newport girls team had the third highest grade point average

of any CIF Southern Section school last year. Tarnow informed the

boys team and the players have responded.

“Everyone does the best they can with grades,” he said. “Last year

we had the fifth-highest [GPA] in the Southern Section.”

The strong study habits translate to the course.

“They are a little more focused on the shot at hand and can let go

of a bad shot,” Tarnow said. “They play more as a team. Every shot

counts. A match could come down to two swings.”

Newport figures to be in many close matches once Sea View League

play begins Foothill, Woodbridge and Aliso Niguel, the three teams

Tarnow said should face a stiff test for his group.

“Foothill has been putting up some low numbers. [The Knights] are

shooting in the 170s and 180s. Good teams are shooting in the 190s.

Newport defeated Dana Hills in the opener, 196-199, but then played

on a windy and cold day at Western Hills Golf & Country Club in Chino

Hills the following day and shot 220 in a loss to Servite.

The Sailors defeated host Western, 187-201, at Dad Miller Golf

Course in Anaheim on Tuesday and will open league play in two weeks

at Big Canyon Country Club.

The year’s schedule also includes a trip to the 21-team Palm

Springs Invitational April 5-6, before the Sailors leave for Hawaii

April 7. Newport will face Corona del Mar in the Pelican Cup at

Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast April 30.

“It is a matter of playing well at the right time,” Tarnow said.

“On any given day, you can beat anybody or anybody could beat you.”