HIGH SCHOOL GOLF PREVIEW : Once Again Packed With Talent, Westlake May Bag Another Title

Golfers in Westlake Village, and at any number of Southern California courses, it seems, are starting to recognize the snazzy orange and blue golf bags. As Louis Vuitton luggage signifies that its carrier mixes with the jet set, so a Westlake High bag means its owner’s talent is first class, thousands of feet above that of the average player.

“I think people are starting to realize that if they see a Westlake bag,” Coach Lorin Maygren said, “that there’s a pretty decent player around somewhere.”

Indeed, like on the green, with a six-footer for birdie. Decent players in Maygren’s neck of the woods do not travel in twosomes or threesomes, they travel in packs.

Four players are ranked in national junior standings, which are compiled from points earned by strong showings in tournaments last summer.

Two returning starters, Chris Zambri and Jimmy Chang, qualified for the state high school individual championships last year as juniors at Poppy Hills in Monterey. Zambri and Chang finished third and fourth, respectively, as individuals at the Southern Section team championships at North Ranch Country Club in June.

Westlake has won two Southern Section titles in a row. Last year, the Warriors--with a score of 362--also won the CIF-Southern California Golf Assn. team championship by a record 26 strokes over Taft (388).

At the Marmonte League championships last year, only one non-Westlake player--junior Jamie Nello of Newbury Park--cracked the individual top five. Nello transferred to Westlake over the summer.

The Warriors have won 60 consecutive dual matches, a streak dating back five seasons.

“A great team, great individual players, a great coach,” said Simi Valley Coach Jay Paris, who is in a position to know. His team won the Southern Section title in 1984.

Simi Valley, like the rest of the league--and perhaps the rest of Southern California--is playing for No. 2, because Westlake shows no signs of slowing.

Maygren’s main concern, in fact, is that players might burn out.

“Most of these kids are so dedicated that they’re always trying to improve on something that doesn’t need to be worked on,” he said. “They’re so good that if they don’t see progress all the time, they’ll be out on the range hitting balls, tinkering with their swings.

“They tend to work too hard. I keep telling them, if it’s not broken. . .”

While Westlake lost two players to graduation, including Zambri’s older brother, Mike, there appears to be no shortage of talent to fill the holes. Chang’s younger brother, Jerry, is battling for a varsity position and the addition of Nello was another boost. Nello, who was easily Newbury Park’s best player, moved to Westlake Village last summer.

“I think he basically wanted to play at a school that offered more exposure,” said Chris Zambri, who as the team’s No. 1 man plays in the same foursome with Nello, the No. 2 player. “And he wanted to play where he’d be around players that were as good or better than he is.”

Westlake offers exposure by the mega-dose. Several former players have signed Division I scholarships, most recently James Kim with USC in 1986 and Mike Zambri, who signed with Pepperdine last year. Four current players have been contacted by Division I schools, Maygren said.

The exposure is also high-profile. By the time the season is completed, Westlake will have played at Riviera in Palisades, Poppy Hills in Monterey, Sandpiper in Santa Barbara, the Eisenhower Course at Industry Hills and La Quinta in Palm Springs. Closer to home, Westlake also has matches scheduled at Wood Ranch in Simi Valley and at Valencia Golf Course.

The Warriors are 8-0 in dual matches this year. Zambri and Nello are playing Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. Sophomore Charlie Wi, who started last year, also returns. Chris Rulon and Craig Campbell also have started in Westlake’s top six this year.

“I think if this team plays at all like it’s capable of doing, we could be as good or better than last season,” Maygren said.

It seems reasonable to assume that Westlake would have won the state title last, but there was none.

“I’ve been trying to have the CIF get the Southern and Northern California champions together,” Maygren said. “I think that would be great.”

Westlake players are keeping their bags packed, regardless.

TEAMS AND PLAYERS TO WATCH

Taft (City 5-A League)--Some say Taft is a close second to Westlake in terms of team ability--but Coach Ray O’Connor said the Toreadors have dropped a notch in talent from last season.

Only seniors David Solomon and Roger Makemson return from the varsity. For Taft to repeat, new players will have to fill the void--and Taft’s junior varsity won the City championship last season, taking the top seven individual honors in the process.

Scott Hooper and Brian Minkow, both seniors, and sophomore Jim Venitos round out the top five. Hooper, 17, is also a drag racer and was named the rookie of the year on the Top Gas West Drag Racing Assn. Solomon is one of the Valley’s best left-handed players.

Alemany (Del Rey)--If Dave Berganio was shooting 3 for 3 for the Indian basketball team--on which he was a starter--his coach, Joe Anlauf, probably would have smiled and told him to keep shooting.

Berganio is 3 for 3 in Del Rey League golf, winning the individual title since his freshman year. And his golf coach, Joe Anlauf, grins and tells him to keep shooting.

“Dave is one heckuva good player,” Anlauf said. “He really knows what he’s doing out there.”

Berganio, a senior, is averaging 36.9 strokes each nine-hole round for Alemany (5-1). Senior Roger Metz, the No. 2 player, is averaging 38.9. Alemany’s only dual-match loss is to Westlake.

Burbank (Foothill)--Last season, the Indians won a league title with a team consisting of two seniors and a large group of sophomores. This year, Burbank (8-1) has eight juniors fighting for six varsity positions.

“They’re all a year older, and, hopefully, a year better,” Coach Dave Kemp said.

Corby Segal and Steve Cardarelli both started last year and are currently playing Nos. 1 and 2. The two are averaging 35.6 and 38.7 each round, respectively, at the par-34 DeBell Golf Course. Rick Sessinghaus and Mike Parrinello are playing Nos. 3 and 4. Burbank was 17-2 overall and 9-1 in league matches last year.

Granada Hills (City 5-A)--The Highlanders had a terrible year in 1986 and were dropped from the City 5-A to the 4-A League. Granada Hills won the 4-A title last year, however, and were moved back to where Coach Joe White thinks they rightfully belong--the 5-A League.

“I don’t know if we’re good enough to win it all, but we have some strong individual players,” White said.

Andy Chao, a senior, is the team’s No. 1 man. Chao, who has been accepted at Yale, has been scoring consistently in the high 70s. Mark Ridel and Dan Bowman, both juniors, are playing Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Joshua Oring, a sophomore, is the No. 4 man. Granada Hills is 3-1 after one round of league play.

Thousand Oaks (Marmonte)--League rival Westlake had the Zambri brothers, Mike and Chris, last year and the Chang brothers, Jerry and Jimmy, this season. Thousand Oaks, expected to finish second in league play, has twins Jeff and Chad Holden.

Chad and Jeff, both juniors, play Nos. 2 and 4, respectively. Kelly Schlender, a junior, is the No. 1 man (79 avg.) and Mike Donnelly, a sophomore, is No. 3. The team’s only preleague loss is to Agoura.

Coach Greg Ropes knows this season is one that likely will be spent fighting for the runner-up position.

“Yeah, it can be awfully tough having the state champs in your league,” Ropes cracked.

Crespi (Del Rey)--Senior Jon McGovern spent his fall playing golf--until Celts quarterback Rob O’Byrne broke his arm in a league game at Alemany. McGovern, who was a backup quarterback on the varsity as a junior, rejoined the team and went through a refresher course in Xs and Os.

Golf, however, is his strong suit. McGovern, the Celts’ top player, competed in a number of tournaments over the summer, including a victory in a Long Beach-area tournament.

If McGovern plays poorly, he won’t have to look far to find help. His father, Tom, is Crespi’s first-year coach. McGovern might seriously challenge Berganio for the individual title. The Celts’ Sam Spinello also has played well. Crespi was 6-1 entering league play, which began this week.

North Hollywood (City 5-A)--The Huskies finished behind Taft at the City championships last year, yet Tac Tharpe, then a senior, won the individual title. The year before, Chris Barbour, another Huskie, won the individual championship.

Coach Lyle Reeves may have yet another individual champion. Alex Woodson, the team’s No. 2 man last year, returns and has been playing well--he shot a 1-over-par 73 at Harding Park last week.

The Huskies have been decimated by injuries and ineligibility, however, and will not become a factor in team competition unless several players return in time for the City championships. Three players, including returning starter Tristian Taylor, are ineligible, but may return next month.

“A couple of months ago, I was so high I couldn’t believe it,” Reeves said. “Then the grades came out.”

Simi Valley (Marmonte)--The Pioneers won the Southern Section title in 1984 and Simi Valley still has some individual players who could do well. Seniors Dan Freilich and Tony Castellano, both starters last year, are playing Nos. 1 and 2.

Notre Dame (Del Rey)--The Knights feature the Valley’s best female high school player, sophomore Heidi Voorhees, but junior Brendan O’Shaughnessy is the team’s best and most consistent player. O’Shaughnessy and senior Paul Nelson, who also played basketball, are the team’s Nos. 1 and 2 players.