Redlands wins Citrus Belt League boys golf title; REV’s Prendergast takes medalist honors

REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands High School’s boys golf team won the Citrus Belt League title with nine wins and one loss in dual 18-hole matches, and three of its players earned a trip to the CIF Southern Section individual championship tournament.

Meanwhile, Redlands East Valley sophomore Jack Prendergast posted a 3-over-par 73 on April 30 to earn medalist honors at the CBL finals at the Terriers’ home course, historic Redlands Country Club, founded in 1896.

Prendergast opened the 36-hole tournament with an 8-over-par 78, but came back with the tournament’s low round of 73 on Day 2 to win by two strokes. Prendergast had a 10-foot birdie putt on 18, but the ball lipped out, leaving him with a par.

Joining him in advancing to CIF individual play were runner-up Johnny Suh of Redlands, third-place finisher Grant Tucker of Citrus Valley, fourth-place finisher Preston Ashley of Redlands and fifth-place finisher C.J. Lorenzo of Redlands. Ashley and Suh are ninth-graders, and Lorenzo is a sophomore.

Suh and Prendergast were tied at one point in the final round. “I left a lot of putts out there,” said Suh. “I was just too aggressive going to 17 and 18.”

They were among the eight golfers who teed off in the second round of the 36-hole tournament. Just missing the trip to the CIF individual tournament, scheduled for May 11 at Bear Valley Golf Club in Victorville, was senior Wyatt Jueden-Pytel of Redlands, who shot rounds of 77 and 80 to finish at 157, one shot behind Lorenzo.

Another Redlands golfer, senior Jacob Abel, missed the cut after the first 18 holes on April 29 after shooting an 11-over-par 81. Ethan Ashley, the other Redlands entry, also did not advance after an 83 in the first round.

Tucker was the first-round leader after a 75, one stroke ahead of Suh’s 76. Suh shot 77 in the second round to tie Tucker after 36 holes at 153, 13 over par. A card playoff resulted in Suh being placed second. Ashley placed fourth with rounds of 79 and 76 for a 155 total. Lorenzo shot back-to-back rounds of 78 for a 156 total.

In the gallery watching the tournament was current Cal State San Bernardino junior Kamron Hopson, son of Redlands coach Mark Hopson. The Coyotes won two tournaments this year and finished second in the CCAA conference tournament. Hopson led the Terriers to a CIF Southern Section team title in 2021 and he earned medalist honors.

Redlands’ only dual-match loss was to CBL runner-up Yucaipa by a score of 202-201 over 18 holes on April 23. The Terriers finished the regular season 15-1 overall and 9-1 in the CBL. Yucaipa followed at 8-2. REV was 7-3. Citrus Valley was 3-7, Cajon 2-8 and Beaumont 1-9.

The top 20 finishers and ties at Bear Valley Golf Club in Victorville on Monday advance to the individual CIFSS championship on May 21.

The CIF section team championships will take place May 18-19, and 14 teams from all divisions will advance to the finals on May 21. Bear Valley will host one of the team championship sites on May 18.