Clark’s score does it

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NEWPORT COAST — If it was a poker game, Mychael Clark would be virtually laughed at for showing his hand. But this was the Battle of the Bay boys’ golf match and Clark, the Newport Harbor High junior, couldn’t help but smile as he drove up to his teammates after his round.

Clark’s grin could not be mistaken for a smirk, nor could it be a result of a funny joke. No, this smile was one of pure joy. He knew he had delivered to help the Sailors beat their Back Bay rivals.

After the first round of scores came in on a windy Wednesday at Pelican Hill Golf Course, Corona del Mar held a one-stroke lead based on four players for each team. CdM senior Camden Nicholson wowed them all with his three-under-par-69 to become the medalist.

But Clark’s score changed the outcome faster than the wind whipped at the boys’ heads throughout the 18 holes.

Clark’s four-over 76 helped Newport Harbor beat CdM for the third straight year. This time, the Sailors won, 388-393, to retain possession of the Pelican Cup, the trophy that goes to the winner of the Back Bay boys’ golf rivalry.

“It was a good feeling to know that I can come through for the team,” Clark said. “I’m put back there [behind the first group] to be the anchor, so it’s good to come through. It was exciting.”

Travis Russell, Newport Harbor’s No. 1 player Wednesday, and Sailors Coach Scott Tarnow added in the scores and smiled, too, to confirm Clark’s good feeling. They walked over to where Corona del Mar’s team sat and told them the score. After CdM Coach Mike Starkweather acknowledged Newport’s win, players from both teams shook hands.

In another act of good sportsmanship, the Sailors (11-3) waited until the Sea Kings (10-2) had left to bask in their victory with the Pelican Cup, joking around as they posed for pictures with their trophy.

“Let’s go to Hooters,” one of them joked.

Russell laughed along as he passed the trophy around. He had good reason to celebrate.

The junior started off hot, with birdies on holes 2, 3 and 4. But after four bogeys on the back nine, Russell settled for a 71, a more-than-desirable score considering the strong winds and the challenging long course.

Zach Eddy’s 78 also proved beneficial for the Sailors, while Ericson Klein (82) and Marcus Kiel (82) also contributed.

“[The wind] got pretty crazy on a few holes, especially on the back nine,” Russsell said.

That made Nicholson’s score all the more amazing. He finished with four birdies on the par-four 3, par-three 4, par-four 11 and par-five 17.

“My ball striking was really well,” said Nicholson, who plans to walk on at Utah next year. “I kind of just played smart out there. I didn’t go for too much. The wind was really intense. It was probably like 30-mile-per-hour winds and a lot of the holes played straight into the wind. I just hit a lot of fairways.”

Mike Moorhead shot a 76, Josh Starnes and John Davenport both finished at 82 and Brian Mull carded an 84 to round the Sea Kings’ scoring, that actually had a difference-making round from Jonathan Keedy, but he was an alternate.

Keedy shot 73, but because he had never played Pelican Hill and because CdM Coach Mike Starkweather said he had been averaging high scores recently, he did not play among the six to determine scoring for five.

“Camden played very well, but I was a little disappointed with the other scores,” Starkweather said. “I was hoping they would shoot better like they have all year. I think the conditions were really hard for them. The course was in great shape. It was a good test ...

“I was basically pleased. We’ve got a long way to go.”

Tarnow also came away impressed with Nicholson’s score. He also enjoyed how the Sailors followed his advice. The coach had a strrong feeling the match would be tight.

“I thought [the Sailors] battled out there,” Tarnow said. “I told them not to give up until the last putt. And I think they did that.”

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].