San Marcos junior Austin Downing claimed the Channel League Boys Golf championship with a standout day-two performance at River Ridge Golf Course, a par 72, on Tuesday.
Downing began his week with a three-under-par 69 on Monday and followed it up with an even-par showing on Tuesday to capture the title.
He beat out his teammate, junior Andy Keenan, who combined to shoot one-over-par across two days to come in second, and Santa Barbara High senior Alex Ortega, whose two-day score of two-over was good for third.
Downing’s victory was especially unique, as he followed in the footsteps of his dad, George, who won the Channel League boys golf title in 1997.
“It feels great to be the Channel League champ,” Austin Downing said. “It feels cool to join my dad, who also won this tournament, so it’s very special to me. I had everything working today to get it done. It was a lot of grinding and ups and downs throughout the tournament.”
While Downing led the local contingency, the Royals, the Santa Barbara High Dons and the Dos Pueblos Chargers all had several golfers impress on the second day of competition.
San Marcos
Downing and Keenan led the charge, but freshman Axl Wedhammar, freshman Nate Duva and senior Ethan Klawuhn each earned their spots in the top 12 of the 24 golfers to advance to the CIF-SS Individual Tournament.
That tournament will take place at Los Robles Golf Club on Wednesday, May 13.
Duva finished the day tied for fourth place after finishing at four-over-par across the two days. Meanwhile, Wedhammar carded a six-over-par to earn eighth place and Klawuhn finished with a total of 16-over-par to claim one of the final spots into the CIF-SS Individuals.
“This momentum is huge for the team as almost all six of us qualified for the next round, so we are looking great these last few weeks heading into the postseason,” Austin Downing said.
Santa Barbara High
Ortega was a consistent force throughout the tournament, following up his even-par on Monday with a one-over-par 73 on Tuesday to claim third place overall.
Logan Gankas had a solid performance of his own, shooting two-under-par on Monday before carding an 85 (+13) on Tuesday to secure ninth place at 11-over-par.
As a result, Ortega and Gankas have qualified for the CIF-SS Individuals.
Jack Alzina rounded out the Dons with a 24th-place finish after shooting an 85 (+13) on Monday and following it up with an 87 (+15) on Tuesday.
“I’m proud of our boys’ play over the last two days,” Santa Barbara High head coach Ryan Throop said. “For Senior Jack Alzina to make the cut to the second day of the Channel League Individuals in his first season on the team is quite an accomplishment.
“ I know Logan was hoping for a similar round to yesterday’s scorching two-under-par, but he held on today to qualify for CIF individuals… Alex showed his great play again today, eagling hole four en route to a 73, one of the best rounds on the day in windy conditions.”
Dos Pueblos
The Chargers also had all six golfers competing on day two, with Connor Nightingale leading the charge with a four-over-par 76 after his even-par showing on Monday to finish tied fourth place individually.
Nightingale will be Dos Pueblos’ lone representative in the CIF-SS Individuals.
Orlando Ramirez-Gijon finished the tournament at 17-over-par to take 13th overall, while Coulter Jay (+22, 16th) and Parker Hickman (+23, 18th) joined him in the top 20.
“It was great to see Orlando stay steady all round and step up when he needed to on the final hole,” Dos Pueblos head coach Kevin Ahlers said. “He’s improved a lot since his freshman year, and competing at this level shows the work he’s put in.”
Ollie Reynolds (+24, 21st) and Colt Roberts (+27, 23rd) rounded out the Dos Pueblos golfers.