Repeat Is in the Cards

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

When he walked off the 18th green following his 2-under par round at Griffith Park’s Wilson Course last Wednesday, Palisades High senior Ray Yang had no idea he had just won the City golf championship. He was fully expecting to head back out for extra holes against Granada Hills freshman Ryan Ruaysungnoen, but when he reached the clubhouse he got the good news–that he was the winner in a card-off by virtue of  a better back nine score.

“I didn’t know that’s the way they decide it,” Yang admitted. “I would’ve rather gone to a playoff, but I guess that’s the rule.”

Yang, who fired an even par 72 to win his first individual title last spring, became the Dolphins’ first repeat winner since Burley Stamps won back-to-back in 1997-98. More importantly, Yang led Palisades to its  fourth team title in five years and 20th overall.

“I’m glad we won because we’re all seniors and we’ve been looking forward to this since the season started,” Yang said, who will continue his golf career at UC Irvine in the fall. “We wanted to go out on top and the last thing I want to do is let my team down.”

Yang trailed by one shot with one hole to play, but made a 15-foot birdie putt that proved to be the difference when Ruaysungnoen made par to finish at -2. Diamond Lew of North Hollywood was also at 2-under on No. 18, but a bogey opened the door for Yang.   

“That’s the only putt I made over four feet all day,” said Yang, who celebrated with his customary first-pump. “Standing over it I felt good. It was downhill left to right and I read the break right. I thought I’d have to shoot 3-under to win, which would’ve matched my best score here.”

Yang birdied the first hole after hitting a 6-iron into the green and two-putting the par 5. He drove the green at No. 4 and two-putted for birdie and added a  three-foot birdie putt at No. 15. He was assessed a one-stroke penalty when he was unable to find his ball on the 10th fairway but sank a 20-footer to escape with a bogey.

Palisades shot 389 to win the title by nine strokes over  Granada Hills, which denied the Dolphins’ bid for four in a rows with a two-stroke victory in last year’s final.

Ethan Rautbort, who will attend the University of Wisconsin,  shot a 77 after birdies at No. 12 and No. 13.

“They’re both par 4s and after good drives I made five to 10-footers on each,” said Rautbort, one of the squad’s three musketeers along with Grant Ebner (who shot a 78) and Will Holbrow (81). “I played ind of the same as I did at league finals only I made some putts.”

Ebner had three birdies, at No. 1, No. 15 and No. 17, where he read a double break from 30 feet.

“Last year was a heartbreaker and I can’t even express how important it was for us to win this,” said Ebner, who will attend the University of Michigan and is a diehard Wolverines fan. “We’re all very close. WIll and Ethan are my two best friends. This is special.”

Holbrow, who will join Ebner in Ann Arbor, birdied the first and 14th holes, both par 5s.   

“Today was the polar opposite of last week when I shot a 74,” UC Irvine-bound senior Jason Simon said following his 83. “The greens were firmer and faster  and I didn’t have any birdies. Last week we shot 375 and figured we’d win if we got close to that again.”

Kaelan Nettleship, who also runs on the Pali High track team and will attend UCLA, fired an 84 with birdies at No. 5 and No. 10.