The California Interscholastic Federation is divided into ten sections throughout the state, and each provides contestants in the events based on district student population. The State Championship is a one-day event run by the NCGA and SCGA, with teams and individual students competing in 18 holes of stroke play. The top six individuals and top three teams of each region (Northern and Southern) advance to the State Championship, which rotates each year between Northern and Southern sites.
De La Salle High of Concord made it two in a row, while Luke Powell of Capistrano Valley Christian took the individual title.
De La Salle became the first back-to-back winner since Westlake High (2014-15), carding a team round (best-five-out-of-six) 9-under 136 at par-71 Poppy Hills Golf Course to defeat runner-up Torrey Pines by 10 strokes.
The De La Salle squad, who now has three CIF titles (2006), was paced by a 66 by Joshua Kim and a 67 by Jack Jerge. Other Spartans scores were Jaden Dumdumaya (70), James Williams (71), Jack Hayden (72) and Colin Keith (75).
Torrey Pines, who was in search of its fifth title, was led by Johsua Chung (67) and Phillip Kench (68). The two other NorCal teams, Crystal Springs (363) and Granite Bay (373), finished third and sixth, respectively.
"This is just an amazing group of kids are all great players. They're all also amazing with the mental game as well," De La Salle head coach Jim Collins said. "They stay calm no matter the circumstances. Nothing bothers them."
In the individual competition, Powell, an 18-year-old senior who's headed to UCLA in the fall, got red hot. He'd post a 7-under 64 that featured six birdies and an eagle (par-5 4th) to go against just one bogey (No. 17). The only 5 on his scorecard came on the closing par-5 18th.
Powell previously had experience playing at Poppy Hills in the annual Junior Tour of Northern California Challenge Cup.
"My putter got really hot," Powell said. "I had this (winning State) as a goal since the first event of the season. It's been a lot of hard work."
On a stretch of holes No.9 through No.12, Powell rang up four consecutive birdies. He at one point was at a total of 8-under, which flirted with the championship record held by Rickie Fowler.
"I was in the zone during those holes," Powell simply said.
Joshua Kim and Kush Arora of Amador Valley finished tied for second at 66.
Looking ahead to 2024, don't be surprised if De La Salle is back in the thick of things. The Spartans only lose Jerge and Williams to graduation.
| Year | Winner | Site |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Luke Powell, Capistrano Valley Christian (Individual), De La Salle HS (Team) | Poppy hills GC |
| 2022 |
Brandon Knight, Foothill HS (Individual)De La Salle HS (Team) |
San Gabriel GC |
| 2019 |
Luke Potter, La Costa Canyon (Individual) La Costa Canyon High School (Team) |
Poppy Hills GC |
| 2018 |
Tyler Guo, Crean Lutheran (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
San Gabriel CC |
| 2017 |
Matt Lloyd, Archbishop Mitty (Individual) Archbishop Mitty High School (Team) |
Poppy Hills GC |
| 2016 |
Hidetoshi Yoshihara, Woodbridge (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
San Gabriel CC |
| 2015 |
Jacob Solomon, Dublin High (individual) Westlake High School (Team) |
Poppy Hills GC |
| 2014 |
Justin Suh, Evergreen Valley (Individual) Westlake High School (Team) |
San Gabriel CC |
| 2013 |
Jack Chung, Sunny Hills (Individual) Stevenson High School (Team) |
Quail Lodge GC |
| 2012 |
Austin Smotherman, Del Oro (Individual) Granite Bay High School (Team) |
San Gabriel CC |
| 2011 |
Alexander Schauffele, Scripps Ranch (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Poppy Hills GC |
| 2010 |
Patrick Cantlay, Servite (Individual) Santa Barbara High School (Team) |
Santa Maria CC |
| 2009 |
Kevin Dougherty, Vista Murrieta (Individual) La Costa Canyon High School (Team) |
Poppy Hills GC |
| 2008 |
Jeff Kang, Sunny Hills (Individual) Sunny Hills High School (Team) |
Santa Maria CC |
| 2007 |
Austen Dailey, HB Edison (Individual) HB Edison High School (Team) |
Poppy Hills GC |
| 2006 |
Rickie Fowler, Murrieta Valley (Individual) De La Salle High School (Team) |
Santa Maria CC |
| 2005 |
Daniel Lim, Bellarmine (Individual) St. Augustine (Team) |
Poppy Hills GC |
| 2004 |
Eddie Olson, Aptos (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Santa Maria CC |
I have the privledge of watching these young men play on a regular basis, and they are a great group of guys.
congrats!!!
you guys have worked hard to earn this greatest of awards!!!!
Go Westlake!!!
Gwen Lucoff
Malibu, ca