HIGH SCHOOL GOLF : SOUTHERN SECTION

Hart High’s Steve Farris didn’t get much rest before the Southern Section individual golf championships, so one of his first thoughts after a full day was only natural:

“I’m just thinking about sleep now,” Farris said after winning a playoff for fifth place Monday at Canyon Country Club in Palm Springs.

Farris attended the Hart prom Saturday night, and got to sleep at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday. He caught a nap during the drive to Palm Springs from Newhall Sunday evening and a solid seven hours before his 9:36 a.m. tee time.

Sleep deprivation or not, Farris started well.

He was two-under par after five holes and one under after 10, before two bogeys on the back nine left him at one-over 73, five shots behind champion Vic Placeres of Whittier La Serna.

Farris, a senior who has committed to play for California, was one of four Valley-area players to advance to the CIF-Southern California Golf Assn. championships June 7 in San Diego.

Russell Surber of Flintridge Prep finished in a six-way tie for eighth at 74. Royal’s Anthony Marciano, who finished in a tie for second last year, and Ross Fulgentis of Westlake each shot 76 to advance.

Hart’s Jason Semelsberger and Alex Kuyumijian of Westlake each shot 77, but lost a 12-way playoff for the final berth in the CIF-SCGA tournament.

Kevin Loustalot of Thousand Oaks (78), Brian Rosenstein of Harvard-Westlake (78), Peter Joe of La Canada and Brian Thibault of St. Francis (79) were the only other area players to break 80.

“The greens were so hard,” Rosenstein said. “I hit four or five shots within two feet of the hole and they bounced over the green. It cost me the cut.”