CIF/SCGA SoCal Boys Regional Championship
May 24, 2023, Los Serranos GC (South)
This Championship is open to high school individuals and teams competing in the CIF Southern California Sections.This also serves as a qualifier into the state championship, which is conducted in Southern California every other year.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern California sections are comprised of the Central, Los Angeles, Southern and San Diego sections. Past Champions include Craig Stadler, John Cook, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Charley Hoffman, Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau.
Colin Li Goes Wire-to-Wire for Individual Title, Tesoro takes team honors
Everything came together for Colin Li at the right time. He was admittedly struggling with his irons leading up to the 2023 CIF Boys Regional HS Championship, but that changed on his second hole of the day at Los Serranos GC.
He went straight at the pin with a four-iron on his second shot of the par-4 seventh hole and stuck it to two feet.
“After hitting that iron shot, it just kind of flipped a switch in me and from then on, everything was clicking.”
The tap-in birdie that ensued was just the start for the Torrey Pines HS junior. With two birdies in his first four holes, Li immediately put himself in the mix at the top of the leaderboard. He rattled off three more in as many holes to take the solo lead at five-under.
Li built his lead to three strokes after converting another pair of birdies, making it seven in 11 holes.
“My putting was great today, made a lot of mid range putts and long putts,” Li said. “Those gave me a lot of confidence and momentum.”
Despite back-nine charges from Capistrano Valley Christian’s Luke Powell and Ryan Abuan of Great Oaks, Li was able to hold them off with his eighth and ninth birdies of the day on Hole Nos. 1 & 3. Finishing with one of the lowest scores in this championship since 2013 (eight-under 66), Li’s teammates showered him with water upon learning that he had clinched the CIF Boys Regional individual title.
“It definitely gives me a lot of confidence going into next week knowing that I can shoot a deep score,” Li said. “Just overall good vibes heading into the state championship next week.”
It also marks the first Torrey Pines HS golfer to win a regional individual title. With the victory, Li earns exemptions to the 112th California Amateur Championship in June and the 124th SCGA Amateur Championship in July.
In the team competition, Tesoro HS captured its first ever CIF regional title in its first ever appearance in this championship. Anchored by a pair of 71’s from Ethan Block and Zander Grant, Tesoro finished at nine-under as a team, besting the field by four strokes. Keegan Gicking also scored an albatross on the par-5 16th hole.
“To win is really special for us,” head coach Van Johnstone said. “[Michael Block’s] two sons play for me so we feel there’s a certain amount of destiny behind this team right now…What we did today, this distinguishes them as the best team in school history.”
Winning Team Members (Tesoro Titans)
Ethan Block
Zander Grant
Dylan Block
Keegan Gicking
Wil Moos
State Team Qualifiers
Torrey Pines Falcons
Oaks Christian Lions
State Individual Qualifiers
Colin Li (Individual Champion)
Ryan Abuan
Luke Powell
Stephen Luo
Benjamin Zeller
Justin Gill
Tucker Sweeney
Connor Williams
Will Musson
Thomas Browning
Past Winners
Year | Winner | Site |
---|---|---|
2023 |
Colin Li, Torrey Pines (Individual) Tesoro High School (Team) |
Los Serranos GC |
2022 |
Daniel Heo, Cypress (Individual) Edison High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2021 |
Youseong Choi, Anaheim Discovery Christian (Individual) Servite Friars High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2019 |
Tyler Guo, Crean Lutheran (Individual) La Costa Canyon High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2018 |
Tyler Guo, Crean Lutheran (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2017 |
Sean Maruyama, Campbell Hall (Individual) Palm Desert High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2016 |
Charlie Reiter, Palm Desert (Individual) Westlake Village High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2015 |
Norman Xiong, Temescal Canyon (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2014 |
Sage Casaga, Murrieta Valley (Individual) Westlake High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2013 |
Jack Chung, Sunny Hills (Individual) Sunny Hills High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2012 |
Bryson DeChambeau, Clovis East (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2011 |
Ben Doyle, La Jolla (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2010 |
Jake Katz, Westlake (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
The Golf Club at Rancho Calif. |
2009 |
Kevin Dougherty, Vista Murrieta (Individual) La Costa Canyon High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2008 |
Johnny Mac Arthur, Hart (Individual) Santa Barbara High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2007 |
Rickie Fowler, Murrieta Valley (Individual) Clovis West High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2006 |
Rory Hie, Cerritos (Individual) Cathedral Catholic High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2005 |
Brett Kanda, Flintridge Prep (Individual) St. Augustine High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2004 |
Rickie Fowler, Murrieta (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2003 |
Daniel Im, La Mirada (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2002 |
Brian van Heel, Westlake (Individual) Palm Desert High School (Team) |
The SCGA Members' Club |
2001 |
Brandon Hillpot, Colton (Individual) San Marcos High School (Team) |
The SCGA Members' Club |
2000 |
Steve Conway, Santa Margarita (Individual) Santa Margarita High School (Team) |
The SCGA Members' Club |
1999 |
Ron Won, University (Individual) San Marcos High School (Team) |
The SCGA Members' Club |
1998 |
Brett Bockman, Palm Desert (Individual) Palm Desert High School (Team) |
The SCGA Members' Club |
1997 |
David Oh, Whitney (Individual) Santa Margarita High School (Team) |
The SCGA Members' Club |
1996 |
James Donahoe, Hemet (Individual) Westlake High School (Team) |
The SCGA Members' Club |
1995 |
Charley Hoffman, Poway (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Bernardo Heights CC |
1994 |
Charley Hoffman, Poway (Individual) Palm Desert High School (Team) |
Redlands CC |
1993 |
Mike Samoles, Henry (Individual) Santa Margarita High School (Team) |
Stockdale CC |
1992 |
Chris Riley, Henry (Individual) Trabuco Hills High School (Team) |
San Diego CC |
1991 |
Tiger Woods, Western (Individual) Palm Springs High School (Team) |
Marbella CC |
1990 |
Austin Maki, Estancia (Individual) West High School (Team) |
El Caballero CC |
1989 |
Joe Acosta, Redwood (Individual) West High School (Team) |
Bakersfield CC |
1988 |
Manny Zerman, University (Individual) Carlsbad High School (Team) |
La Jolla CC |
1987 |
Phil Mickelson, University (Individual) Westlake High School (Team) |
North Ranch CC |
1986 |
Mike Swingle, Grossmont (Individual) Esperanza High School (Team) |
Lakeside GC |
1985 |
O.D. Vincent, Palm Springs (Individual) Palm Springs High School (Team) |
Stockdale CC |
1984 |
Ray Babcock, Santana (Individual) Palm Springs High School (Team) |
San Diego CC |
1983 |
Kevin Leach, Palos Verdes (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Glendora CC |
1982 |
Larry Salk, Palisades (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
El Caballero CC |
1981 |
Bryan Gorman, Hilltop (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
Bakersfield CC |
1980 |
Craig Hall, Mt. Carmel (Individual) Mt. Carmel High School (Team) |
Rancho Santa Fe GC |
1979 |
Mark Moore, Elsinore (Individual) Clovis High School (Team) |
Victoria Club |
1978 |
Mike Campagni, La Serna (Individual) Thousand Oaks High School (Team) |
Brentwood CC |
1977 |
David Games, Bellflower (Individual) Highland High School (Team) |
Stockdale CC |
1976 |
John Cook, Miraleste (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
San Diego CC |
1975 |
Lennie Clements, Poway (Individual) San Marcos High School (Team) |
La Cumbre CC |
1974 |
Rich Friedman, Monte Vista, Whittier (Individual) Mission Viejo High School (Team) |
Los Angeles CC |
1973 |
Tony Campregher, Marina HB (Individual) Rio Mesa High School (Team) |
Bakersfield CC |
1972 |
Mark Johnson, Barstow (Individual) Palisades High School (Team) |
Lomas Santa Fe CC |
1971 |
Craig Stadler, La Jolla (Individual) Palisades High School (Team) |
Virginia CC |