Boys’ Golf: Estancia’s Ehrhorn stands out in win
On the Mesa Linda course at Costa Mesa Country Club, it wasn’t too hard to find the best golfer of the day. That would be the guy in the red shirt with the hair to match: Brad Ehrhorn.
The Estancia High senior birdied holes 4, 5 and 6 to finish as the medalist with a three-under-par 32, highlighting the Eagles’ 181-235 Orange Coast League win against Costa Mesa on Tuesday.
Senior Cody Nelson, who shot 36, was one of a few Estancia players who said they used the match as sort of a practice round because they knew the Mustangs lacked experience.
“We still put the pressure on ourselves,” said Ehrhorn, whose 32 was his best on Mesa Linda.
The Eagles (10-1, 5-1 in league) know they have a big match on Thursday, when they play host to first-place Laguna Beach at Mesa Verde Country Club.
Estancia performed at a high level against Costa Mesa, a team that continues to improve.
“Mesa has come from a million miles this year,” Estancia Coach Art Perry said. “You have to give them credit. They just work hard. They work harder than anybody.”
The Mustangs feature just one returner in senior Michael Hutchinson, who shot the low for Costa Mesa on Tuesday with a 42. The rest of the team is made up of golfers in their first season. Many of them also play on the school’s football team.
“They basically learned to play six weeks ago, so for them to get in the 40s [Tuesday] is very impressive,” Mesa Co-Coach Marlon Liotta said. “They’ve come a long way. They’ve learned a lot. They look good as a team and they play well together. They have made great friendships.”
Liotta and Co-Coach Casey Swanson were also impressed with the way the Mesa golfers wanted to practice during spring break.
“We take it seriously, but we’re really just in it to get better,” said Sam Swanson, who shot his best score of the season, a 44 with a birdie on No. 6. “We’re just starting out. We like to keep it light competition, not too harsh on ourselves. We have gotten better.”
Swanson’s younger brother, Ben, a freshman, also shot his season best, which would be his personal best, at 48, to make his dad, the co-coach even happier.
Jon Brucales, a linebacker on the football team, was another Mustang to shoot his season best, 49. Juniors Helper Kisino and Cameron Curet both shot 52.
The Eagles are also young, but have experience, as sophomores Dalton Manchester (36), Conner Gray (39) and Kobi Uta (39) showed.
Perry, who is in his 28th year, says he likes his team with Ehrhorn and Nelson providing leadership for the up-and-coming teammates.
“That’s amazing,” Perry said of Ehrhorn’s score. “He’s been getting better. The whole team has just been getting better.”
Perry was quite familiar with Casey Swanson, as the Mesa co-coach played on Perry’s freshman football team at Estancia in 1982.
Ehrhorn said Tuesday’s match was fun because many of the golfers knew each other because they’ve grown up in nearby neighborhoods.