Viewpoint Golfer Angard Named Prep League MVP

Viewpoint freshman golfer Alex Angard played well beyond his years, winning the Prep League final and most valuable player at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena on Wednesday.

Angard won the two-day tournament by one stroke over Jack Brouchard of Flintridge Prep. Angard also earned a spot in the CIF Northern Individual Regional at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard on May 17. The top four golfers in the Prep League final advance to the Northern Individual Regional.

"I played decent on the par 5s," Angard said. "I couldn't hit my driver all day. I couldn't hit a putt within 10 feet. My chipping was real bad. It wasn't anything like yesterday. I just couldn't get it going today."

Despite a wild driver and what he called a grinding round, Angard shot 7-over par, 79, on the final day of the tournament on the challenging par-72 Course 2 at Brookside. He shot a 1-over 71 on Tuesday, the first day of the tournament and was 8-over par, 150, for the two-day tournament. Bouchard shot 5-over par, 75, on the first day and 4-over par, 76, on the second day for a 151 over the two days.

Johnny Hernandez from the Webb School was third, and David Hong from Pasadena Poly was fourth in the Prep League final.

Angard birdied three holes, had six bogeys and two double-bogeys. He started his round with a bogey and a double bogey and was 3-over par after two holes.

But he settled down on the par 5s and was able to make up some shots with birdies. He also drained a 30-foot birdie putt on the par 4 ninth hole.

"He's done well," Viewpoint coach Paul Bastedo said. "Scoring a 79 on a bad day, I consider that good. I question his course management. That's the good thing is being able to get out of trouble and make something of a hole."

Angard admitted his shot selection was a little suspect, especially with his driver.

"I was just hooking my driver the whole day," Angard said.

Viewpoint teammate Jake Kester earned all-league honors by finishing in the top seven. He shot a 163 over the two-day tournament and was 10-over par, 82, on the second day.

"I was all over the place," Kester said. "A lot of hazards. You had to hit straight drives, keep the ball in the fairway."

Kester made two birdies, one on the fifth hole and another on the 15^th hole. His approach shot on the par-4 fifth hole landed five feet from the pin.

It was the second year in a row that a golfer from Viewpoint won the Prep League MVP. Skyler Mednick won the league MVP last year.

"As a freshman, it feels pretty good that I can compete that well in league matches," Angard said.

Making the all-league team made Kester, also a freshman, want to improve.

"It makes me want to get closer next year," Kester said.

The 2010 All-Prep League golf team

1. Alex Angard, Viewpoint (MVP)

2. Jack Bouchard, Flintridge Prep

3. Johnny Hernandez, Webb

4. David Hong, Pasadena Poly

5. Croix Griffin, Pasadena Poly

6. Jared Jackson, Webb

7. Jake Kester, Viewpoint