San Juan Hills Senior Takes Next Step Toward State Finals

San Juan Hills senior Eric Taylor shot a four-over-par 75 on Monday, leaving him tied with six other players at the end of 18 holes at the CIF Southern Section Individual Championships.

With all automatic qualifications going to rounds of 74 and better, that left six spots at the Southern California Championships left, and seven golfers vying to fill them.

Before Los Alamitos junior John and Villa Park's Ryan Tetrault teed off, Villa Park's Kethan Reddy and Valencia's Glen Lee kicked off their own playoff to determine the tournament champion, with Reddy claiming the crown after two playoff holes.

Two groups of playoff golfers then teed off after the third-place playoff went out, with Taylor taking the second drive from the box among the final foursome.

"The first three went out and they all [shot even-par]," San Juan Hills coach Jim Tinker said. "The first guy [in Taylor's group] hit it straight down the middle, and Eric went next and he pulled it left under some trees. From underneath the trees, Eric hit a punch shot about 15 feet from the hole, hit the putt, and he was the only kid that birdied."

The future Sacramento State Hornet took sixth on of the tougher golf courses in Southern California, Industry Hills—an LPGA mainstay that features rugged, hilly terrain and narrow fairway. He must now  prepare for the CIF/SCGA Southern California Championships next Tuesday at Brookside Country Club in Pasadena, otherwise known as the Rose Bowl parking lot to college football fans.

Taylor has experienced the Pasadena course, and that should help him in attempting to turn in a top six individual score and gain a qualification for the CIF state championships at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach on June 8.

, missed the cut by only one stroke on Monday, ending his brilliant high school golf career at San Juan Hills, one that saw the Stallions win their first Southern Section regional championship. Owen has also received a full-ride scholarship to Sac State and will be a familiar face on the AJGA circuit this summer.

"Owen played really well," San Juan Hills coach Jim Tinker said. "He made one slight error out on the course; otherwise, he would've put himself right in there with everybody else. I'm very pleased with both of their play."

Eric Taylor is one of only two of 11 area golfers qualifying for the SCGA tournament. He is joined by Los Alamitos junior John Lee, who placed third.