SOUTHERN SECTION REGIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS : Tiger Woods Has Best Round, but Estancia Comes Up Winner

COSTA MESA — Estancia High School’s golf team, playing on its home course, moved a step closer to a third consecutive Southern Section championship by winning the Southern Regional title Monday at Mesa Verde Country Club.

Estancia, which finished second to Dana Hills on the Dolphins’ home course in the Southern Regional last season, finished at 401. Dana Hills and Huntington Beach tied for second at 409 to take the final two spots in Monday’s Southern Section team championships at La Cumbre Country Club in Santa Barbara.

Marina, which was the undefeated Sunset League champion, finished fourth at 414, and El Toro and Trabuco Hills tied for fifth at 415.

The wind kicked up often on the expansive Mesa Verde course Monday and only Tiger Woods, a freshman from Western, finished below par. Woods, 14, who narrowly missed qualifying for the Los Angeles Open in February, shot two-under 70.

Ryan Davis of Estancia and Scott Ohls of Savanna each shot 76, the next-best score.

Three Estancia players--Davis, Paul Hinkle (77) and Chris Beck (79)--were among nine players scoring below 80. Scott Richardson of Dana Hills (78) and Beck were in a threesome with Woods.

Although Estancia lost matches to Trabuco Hills and Huntington Beach earlier this season, brothers Art and Chuck Perry, the Eagles’ co-coaches, said they weren’t concerned.

“We felt it was going to be between Huntington Beach, Dana Hills and us,” Art Perry said. “Our goal was to be in the top three.”