Speare claims golf title

A new standard was set Tuesday for the Laguna Beach High girls’ golf program after the Breakers enjoyed a historic performance at El Prado Golf Club.

On that day in Chino Hills, the Breakers competed in a league finals event that combined schools from the Orange Coast and Golden West leagues. As a team, Laguna finished in second-place behind champion Estancia. That finish is the best by a Breakers team in school history, Laguna Coach Barbara Williams said.

Additionally, senior Sasha Speare accomplished something that no other Laguna golfer had done before: she won an individual league championship.

Speare was in third place following the league prelims match Monday but came on strong at Tuesday’s final to win the league’s individual championship.

She shot a 78 during Tuesday’s final round.

The 17-year-old was the league’s low-scoring leader throughout the course of the 2006 season, Williams said.

“I’m am just so happy for the team and for Sasha,” said Williams, who three years ago took over a Laguna program that had just five players. Today, 24 girls make up the Breakers roster.

Twelve golfers advanced from Monday’s prelims to Tuesday’s final, which was dominated by golfers from Estancia.

“Sasha basically went up against the entire Estancia team in the final,” Williams said. “What she accomplished is unreal. She single-handedly beat an entire team. She’s pretty awesome.”

Two years ago, Speare qualified for league finals as a sophomore when Laguna was part of the Pacific Coast League. Last year as a junior, she competed at league prelims but didn’t advance to the final round.

She capped a great league career Tuesday by winning the school’s first individual golf title.

“I was confident going into the final,” said Speare, who this year is senior class president, vice president of the Surfrider Club, carries a 4.50 GPA and does volunteer work with the Tiger Woods Foundation. “I wasn’t nervous at all. Last year, nerves got the best of me, but this time they didn’t.

“I knew if I kept to my game, I could win it. It’s a great feeling to win the title, and do so well as a team.”

Williams said that Laguna next will compete Tuesday at the Regional tournament at El Prado Golf Club. Tee time is 8 a.m.