By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
A magical season finally came to an end for Palisades High junior golfer Ray Yang, who advanced as far as he possibly could this spring.
The first Golfin’ Dolphin ever to qualify for the state tournament, Yang shot a 10-over par 81 and tied for 46th place in last Wednesday’s finals at San Gabriel Country Club. He had one birdie – on the par 5 fourth hole – and parred eight holes. He can hold his head high as one of the top 50 players in California.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
A week earlier at the Southern California regional tournament in pasadena, Yang shot an even-par 72 and rolled in a 25-foot putt in a playoff at Brookside Golf Club to earn a state berth.
Yang had plenty of medals placed around his neck this spring, He followed his third straight league individual title by firing his an even-par 72 to capture his first City individual title at Wilson Golf Course in Griffith Park, although the Dolphins finished second by two strokes to Granada Hills in the team competition. Both teams qualified for regionals, where Palisades finished ninth with a score of 406 and Granada Hills was 10th with a total of 412. Yang was the only City player to make the state finals.
Hidetoshi Yoshihara of Irvine Woodbridge shot a 6-under 65 to become the state individual champion, edging Adam Navigato of Torrey Pines by one stroke. Only seven of 54 players finished in red numbers. Torrey Pines shot 358 to win the team title by two strokes over Westlake.
Long Beach Wilson and San Jose Bellarmine Prep tied for third at 371, Concord De La Salle was fifth at 377 and San Jose Harker carded a collective 385 for sixth.
Yang narrowly missed the state tournament as a sophomore. He was at even par through 16 holes before finishing with a 77 at Brookside.
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