Knapp breaks barrier

HUNTINGTON BEACH — For the past two years, Ryan Knapp has ended his season at the CIF Southern Section Southern Individual Regional.

But this year the Estancia High junior broke the barrier.

Knapp shot two-over-par 74 to finish tied for 15th Monday at SeaCliff Country Club and advance to next week’s CIF Southern Section Individual Final.

“It was definitely a nice monkey off my back,” Knapp said. “I’ve been wanting it so bad. It felt really good to get past the [regional].”

Knapp, who finished second in the Orange Coast League — one stroke behind the champion, last week — collected three birdies. Through his first six holes, he was at three-over, but methodically cut it down another stroke.

“It was a grind the entire day,” Knapp said. “I just kind of told myself I wasn’t going to let myself play bad. I didn’t let myself feel negative. I just started putting pretty well toward the end.

“[Next week] should be fun. It’s the best 90 guys in Southern California and I’m pretty excited about it.”

There were 30 players who advanced from the three regionals in the CIF Southern Section.

John Kim of Los Alamitos shot a four-under-par 68 to win the Southern Regional. The qualifying score at SeaCliff was 76. Seven players tied at that mark.

But there wasn’t a playoff to decide the final four spots. Instead, there was a card-off, which is whoever has the lowest score on the final nine holes.

The remaining three players became alternates for next week’s final at Mission Lakes Country Club in Desert Hot Springs.

Knapp didn’t have to worry about the cut.

“He played a fantastic round,” Estancia Coach Art Perry said of Knapp. “It was one of the best rounds he’s played this season. He had great course management ... He did a good job of handling his own game. He putted real well. He was never in bad position. That was the key factor. And, he handled his emotions real well.”

Corona del Mar junior Camden Nicholson missed the cut by one stroke, finishing at 77. His round was highlighted by an eagle on No. 18.

Newport Harbor sophomore Travis Russell shot 87 to end his season.

— From staff reports