OC Varsity » Damian Dottore, OCVarsity

Golf: Local players challenging for top 10 at Polo Classic

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:36:46 +0000

Andrew Levitt, who is getting ready for his sophomore season on the Santa Margarita boys golf team, is in a six-way tie for eighth after shooting a 3-under 69 at the PGA National Course during the first round of the Polo AJGA Junior Golf Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Levitt, who holed five birdies during his round, is currently two strokes off of the lead.

In the girls division, Canyon freshman Jessica Vasilic and University senior Ani Gulugian both carded a 1-over 73 and are tied for 13th,five strokes behind first-place.

Girls golf: Beckman's Park finishes in top 10 at state

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:15:24 +0000

She was 4-over three holes into the CIF State girls golf championship, but when she got ready to make the turn, everything changed for Kaitlin Park. The Beckman sophomore, the only Orange County player to qualify for this tournament, chipped in an eagle from 50 yards out on the par-five No. 9 at Poppy Hills. As she teed it up on the tenth, she was now just 1-over.

Park, who tied for second in the WSGCA So Cal Championships earlier this week, found herself in a tie once again, this time for eighth. She holed two birdies too during her round and finished with a 4-over 76.

Nerves almost got the best of her in the WSCGA tournament in Murrieta, but she said that wasn't the case on Thursday. She had trouble reading the greens at first. And she couldn't hold her head down.

"I would have to say that overall my chipping and putting saved me," Park said. "I have had an eagle from 130 yards or so, but this time I couldn't see the hole. When it landed on the green, everyone was clapping. I just thought I got it close. I had no idea that it went in. The course was in beautiful shape, and there was a lot of competition. It was a great experience."

"I couldn't even see the hole. When it landed on the green everyone started clapping," Park said. "I just thought I got it close, I didn't think it went in."

Football video: OLu ready for tough Dana Hills team

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:38:58 +0000

Thanks to a rash of injuries, Orange Lutheran has been an underdog in just about every game they have played, and the Lancers find themselves once again fighting an uphill battle as the first round of the CIF-SS Pac-5 playoffs is about to begin. The Lancers will face Dana Hills on Friday, and the Dolphins have only lost two games this season. The teams that beat them: Edison and Mission Viejo, the top two seeded teams in the division. Check out some highlights from Wednesday's practice and see what Coach Jim Kunau and QB Mike Markovsky have to say about the Dolphins. Video by Damian Dottore, OCVarsity.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

Boys soccer: Former La Habra star gets Big West honor

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:26:14 +0000

Jonathan Priteo, an All-County First team midfielder for La Habra last season, earned an All Big West Team Honorable mention after scoring three goals as a freshman for No. 11 UC Irvine.

Under UCI coach George Kuntz its unusual for freshman to play as big of a role on the team as Prieto did. At one time during the season he started 17 consecutive games and was taking the corner kicks for the Anteaters.

Prieto and the Anteaters will be on the field on Sunday at UCI, facing either Stanford or St. Mary's in the second round of the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament.

The 16th-seeded Anteaters earned first-round bye after winning the Big West Conference championship.

Girls golf: Beckman's Park makes State

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:02:41 +0000

MURRIETA - Kaitlin Park's nerves were starting to get the best of her, her hands shaking every time she stood over a putt at the SCGA Members Course.

The Beckman sophomore knew she had a good round going, one that just might deliver a WSCGA Southern California Championship.

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Girls golf: Los Al's Lee leads OC players in CIF Individuial Tournament

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:49:41 +0000

SAN CLEMENTE - She had never seen the course before she teed off on Monday at Talega, and the strong ocean breezes made it even more challenging.

Still Esther Lee managed to post a score that put her among the select group of seven golfers, who were the only ones break par at the CIF Southern Section girls golf Individual Championships.

The Los Alamitos freshman holed four birdies and finished with a 1-under 71.

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Football video: El Toro completes season of change

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:44:04 +0000

El Toro finished 2-8 and out of the playoffs a year ago. After cruising past Foothill on Thursday, the Chargers are 7-3 and headed to the postseason. Nico Jackson rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Chargers. Check out some highlights and see what Coach Robert Firth had to say about his team. Video by Damian Dottore, OCVarsity.com

Click here to read the game story.

Find all of Thursday's game stories.

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Girls golf: Uni's Gulugian leads CIF field on Thursday

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:13:18 +0000

She has played with the pros at the U.S. Women's Open and helped the United States defeat some of the best young European golfers at the Junior Solheim Cup.

She's cracked the top 10 of the AJGA national ranking and even hitched a ride on The Donald's golf cart. But when it comes to CIF, Ani Gulugian has yet to experience the same level of success.

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Girls golf: Canyon finishes fifth at CIF-SS championships

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:08:21 +0000

POMONA - Torrance moved into a very familiar spot in Monday at Mountain Meadows Golf Course, while the Canyon girls golf team watched its breakout season come to an end.

With all six of its players posting scores in the 70s, Torrance won its sixth consecutive CIF Southern Section championship, finishing 17 shots ahead of second-place Hart. After throwing out a 78 as their lowest score, the defending state champion Tartars shot 368, meaning they finished eight over as a team.

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Girls golf: Canyon wins CIF Regional

Damian Dottore, OCVarsity — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:04:25 +0000

CHINO - The checks have been filled out and signed for some time now, sitting at the bottom of Coach Jan McKendrick-Harold's briefcase just waiting to pay for Canyon's trip to the CIF girls golf State Championship tournament.

And the postseason has just barely begun.

Wishful thinking? Or is it just plain overconfidence on her part? A lot of putts have to fall before the Comanches can reach that goal.

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