San Juan Hills' Eric Taylor Loses Spot in Finals

San Juan Hills senior Eric Taylor came within a lipped putt of playing in the 2011 CIF State Championships next week at Pebble Beach.

After finishing his individual round Tuesday at the CIF Southern Section SCGA Regional Qualifying Tournament in Pasadena at two-under 70, Taylor found himself tied with six other golfers, but with only three spots at state left to claim.

Taylor, who birdied a playoff hole a week ago at Industry Hills to qualify for Tuesday's round, split the fairway on the Hole 9 to start the overtime session, but his approach sailed left of the pin and into a tricky lie about a foot into the fringe.
Instead of chipping, Taylor reached for his putter.

"It was in a little hole on the fringe, so it bounced [coming off the fringe] and then it caught the collar," Taylor said. "One bad break, and then the next putt just broke more than I thought. I hit it right where I wanted to, so, I don't know, what can you do?"

Taylor's par putt —which would've forced a second playoff hole—lipped out, and the senior's trailblazing career at San Juan Hills came to a surprisingly abrupt end.

"Teamwise, we did better than expected and I was really happy with what we did as a team," Taylor said. "Even if I didn't make it through this round, I finished with two-under, you know? There's nothing to complain about. I made it here, with the rest of the Southern Section—these are the top players in Southern California—so there's nothing to complain about. I'm happy to be here."

Taylor birdied five, seven, 11 and 12, and bogeyed on three and nine. He said he hit fairways and greens all day, but that putting was the challenge, a sentiment that was echoed by Hossler and Levitt.

"The last five holes were nerve-racking," Taylor said before the playoff round was announced. "I knew I needed a birdie, but I parred my last five and I know it's going to be close. I had birdie chances on just about every hole, except for 16 and 18, which were two good lag-putt pars."

Taylor said he's not a big fan of Kikuyu grass, but that otherwise he was pleased with Brookside, which was in good condition.

"It was a real surprise because I was hitting it really bad this weekend," Taylor said of his two-under performance. "The first hole was just horrendous. I almost shanked my tee shot. I ended up making bogey, but I brought it back."

Taylor and his twin brother, Owen, who missed out on participating in Tuesday's round by a only a stroke, will now head to Sacramento State University, leaving behind a legacy of golf excellence at San Juan Hills, San Juan Capistrano's first public high school, now 4-years old.

For more coverage of the CIF Southern Section SCGA Regional Qualifying Tournament, click .