Recap by Jerry Stewart, NCGA
Stevenson High of Pebble Beach returned to the State throne after a decade, while Jaden Soong of St. Francis High in La Canada Flintridge took the Individual title after flirting with the record.
Playing at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course, Stevenson finished the 2025 CIF State Boys' Championship with a team score of 2-under 353 (best five-out-of-six). Co-runner-ups De La Salle High of Concord and Santa Margarita High of Rancho Santa Margarita finished tied at 362.
Leading Stevenson was Luke Brandler with a 67 and Steven Lai with a 69. Other Pirates scores were Zachary Hawkins (70), Calvin Etcheverry (73), Johshveer Chadha (74) and Marc Gabriel Sasetia (74). De La Salle, who won the title in 2022 and 2023, was paced by a 67 from Josh Kim.
For Stevenson, it was their second CIF State crown and first since 2013.
"This is such an amazing moment. A lot of the boys have been a part of the program since their freshman year," Stevenson head coach Justin Bates said. "A State championship always felt a little, like too high of a bar for us. But Poppy Hills is a course we love, and I had a good feeling. The boys were relaxed and confident in the morning. It's just an amazing moment for them."
It was also a day to remember for Soong, who came in a score of 9-under 62 after carding seven birdies to go with an eagle on the par-5 9th. The 62 was one shot shy of the course record of 61, held by Peter Kuest. Second place went to Evan Liu of Torrey Pines with an equally impressive 64.
Soong, a 15-year-old freshman, made a final push with back-to-back birdies on holes Nos. 17 and 18. On the eagle on No.9, Soong hit a 4-iron from 237 yards out to nine feet of the flagstick.
"I just drained a lot of putts. It was a big confidence booster," said Soong, who last year won the SCGA Amateur at the record age of 14. "I am very thankful for my coach, my teammates and my school. They have been absolutely amazing my freshman year."
Winning Team Members (Stevenson HS)
Luke Brandler
Steven Lai
Zachary Hawkins
Calvin Etcheverry
Johshveer Chadha
Marc Gabriel Sasetia
