A celebration of the life of former San Marcos High golf coach Cliff Purcell will be held Saturday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Montecito at 2 p.m.
Purcell passed away on June 21.
He coached at Carpinteria High and San Marcos during a career that started in the late 1950s.
Purcell enjoyed winning records in a variety of sports at both schools. It was in boys golf at San Marcos where he enjoyed his greatest success.
He took over a struggling team and within three years it began a string of victories, won six consecutive Channel League championships and posted a 75-1 League record. The Royals won the CIF-SS championship in 1997 and were runners-up in the SCGA State Championship.
In 1999, Purcell guided the Royals to CIF-SS and the State Championships.
Donations in Purcell’s memory can be made to the San Marcos boys golf program’s Purcell Memorial Fund, Vista del Monte Residents Assistance Fund, Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Santa Barbara or the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table.
— Noozhawk Sports Editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.