TEMECULA – On Thursday, May 16th, the CIF Southern Section’s premier golfers converged on the Oaks/Creek course at Temecula Creek Inn, a first-time host for the section’s individual championship tournament. Among the standout players were two local talents who have secured their spots in next week’s regional finals at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills: Temescal Canyon’s Nixon Lauritzen and Chaparral’s Troy Song.
Key Performances and Highlights
The day was marked by impressive performances, with senior Nixon Lauritzen shooting a remarkable 7-under-par 65. Lauritzen, who is set to attend Grand Canyon University to play golf post-graduation, demonstrated exceptional skill and composure on the course.
Reflecting on his performance, Lauritzen told our photographer, “I haven’t been this good around the greens in a long time, but the goal today was really to be among those that were going to advance, so that mission is complete now.”
Meanwhile, junior Troy Song, who recently clinched the Southwestern League title, shot a solid 73 to secure his advancement to the regional finals.
Notable Achievements
Oaks Christian sophomore Max Emberson emerged as the overall winner of the Southern Section’s individual championship tournament with a stunning 64. This stellar performance further highlighted the level of competition present at the event.
Lauritzen’s recent accomplishments extend beyond this tournament. Last week, he carded a round of 64 at Bear Valley Country Club in Victorville, contributing significantly to Temescal Canyon’s victory in the section’s Division 6 team championship. Temescal Canyon won Division 6 with a total score of 400, with Lauritzen’s 64 leading to a commanding 13-stroke victory.
Advancing to Regionals
Lauritzen and Song will advance as individual contenders. The Southern Section teams advancing to the regionals include San Marcos, Palm Desert, Orange Lutheran, and Oaks Christian. The upcoming regional finals at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, which will get underway Wednesday, May 22, promises to be an exciting continuation of the season, with Lauritzen and Song poised to make waves.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com
