Charles Rich
Savoring the most successful moment of his magnificent four-year
career, Brett Kanda spun the shiny trophy around four times to view
the list of names he'd be joining.
The Flintridge Prep senior golfer joined some elite company.
Kanda carded a six-under-par 66 to win the individual championship
of the 35th annual CIF/Southern California Golf Assn. Final at The
SCGA Golf Course on Thursday. Kanda became the first area athlete to
win the prestigious tournament -- which features the top 124 golfers
from the Southern, Central and San Diego sections, along with the Los
Angeles City Section.
The La Crescenta resident punched his ticket to compete in the
state championship, which will be held at Poppy Hills Golf Course in
Pebble Beach on Wednesday. The top six individuals qualified for the
state tournament.
Kanda joined a star-studded cast that features prominent golfers
like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Chris Riley, Craig Stadler and John
Cook to win the one-day tournament.
He recorded eight birdies, eight pars and two bogeys on the
cavernous 6,707-yard course in the western part of Riverside County.
Kanda, the two-time Prep League champion, edged Cameron Tringale of
Mission Viejo by one stroke.
"I look down at the names and appreciate what's happened to me,"
said the 18-year-old Kanda, who carded a four-over-par 76 to finish
in a 10-way tie for 53rd out of 112 golfers in the tournament in
2003. "Those are some great names, and it's a dream come true.
"I hit the ball well off the tee, and I'm not having to grind a
lot. Things are happening in the right sequence for me, and to shoot
a 66 is saying something."
Indeed.
The UNLV-bound Kanda, who began the shotgun formation on the ninth
hole with Andrew Ok of Granada Hills, San Marcos' Brian Willis and
Kirk Harder of Bakersfield Liberty, relied on his short game.
His signature moment came on the par-3 sixth hole, where his tee
shot landed about three feet from the hole. Kanda immediately drained
his putt to put him at seven-under-par with two holes remaining.
Kanda also made a 40-foot putt on the 18th hole, and provided a
celebratory fist pump to his six family members and two coaches who
watched.
"I got on streaks that gave me a lot more confidence," said Kanda,
who finished with 28 putts on the fast greens. "It makes every aspect
of your game that much better, and you are in a zone.
"My iron shots didn't feel great, except on the fifth and seventh
holes. But my short game made up for that."
