After a year off due to COVID-19, the CIF/SCGA SoCal Boys HS Championship was resurrected at Brookside GC in Pasadena. Amidst the sweltering heat, 124 high school competitors battled it out and Youseong Choi captured the individual title, while the Servite Friars took home the team championship for the first time in its school's history.
Playing in the final group of the day, Youseong Choi (Anaheim Discovery Christian) nabbed the lead from Kyle An and never looked back. Choi went out in 4-under 32 with four birdies and no bogeys. Already tied for the lead, Choi rattled off two straight birdies on No. 10 and 11, giving himself a two-shot advantage. The eventual champion slammed the door shut with birdies on No. 13 and No. 15 before coasting in for the three shot victory.
An (Aliso Niguel) charged out of the gates with a flawless front-nine 4-under 32 that included a handful of clutch 10-12 par putts. An was rock solid throughout the back, starting with a birdie on No. 10, before coming to the tough par-3 No. 17. His approach shot on the water-surrounded green was caught a bit heavy, leaving the then-leader with a 40-foot chip over the corner of the green. An’s scrambling luck ran dry, as he was unable to get up-and-down after leaving his chip 15 feet short, and settled for an even-par back-nine 36 and an overall score of 4-under 68.
Playing a group behind An, Jaden Huggins (Vista Murrieta) turned on the back-nine jets with three birdies, including back-to-back on No. 15 and the dogleg left No. 16. Knowing his standing on the scoreboard, Huggins went flag hunting on No. 17, but was unable to drain the 20-footer. Taking driver on the 18th tee, Huggins ripped a drive hole-high on the par-4 finishing hole. Needing a birdie to tie the clubhouse leader, he left his chip 15 feet short and unfortunately raced his attempt by the hole, settling for a 3-under 69.
Jaden Hunter (Canyon Crest Academy) put a jolt into the field with a back-nine to remember. After an even-par front-nine, Hunter went off with birdies on No. 10 and 11 before carding an impressive eagle on the long par-5 No. 15. Finding himself squarely in the hunt, Hunter nearly canned a chip on No. 16 but missed the short come-backer for par, ending his hopes of a title.
On the team side, the Servite Friars dominated the competition, rolling into the clubhouse with a team score of even par. It serves as the Friars first-ever school title. Torrey Pines Falcons finished second and Anaheim Discovery Christian Magi came in third place.
Winning Team Members (Servite Friars)
William Sung
Ben Hong
Jack Cantlay
Chip Deegan
Mason LaBow
Henry Xu