Great Oak's Abuan seals ticket to CIF State Championship

Ryan Abuan had an uneven start to his round this past Wednesday, but he eventually found his groove.

Abuan, a senior from Great Oak High School, finished in second place after firing a round of 7-under-par 67 during the CIFSCGA

state qualifier played at the Los Serranos Country Club’s South Course in Chino Hills.

Abuan advanced to the CIF State Championship, which will take place Wednesday at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach. Abuan, who is headed to University of San Diego, is just the third Great

Oak boys golfer to qualify for a state finals as an individual, joining Michael Howe (2012-13) and Haoyuan Li (2015). Great Oak also qualified as a team in 2009.

Colin Li of Torrey Pines was the Southern California regional champion this season, finishing with a round of 8-under-par 66.

Abuan was 1-over following five holes, with a birdie on the par-5 eighth hole sandwiched between two bogeys. He shot 8-under over the final 13 holes, including birdies on four more par 5s and an eagle on the par-4 third.

Abuan was the lone Inland golfer to qualify for the state finals this season. The top three teams advanced, as well as the top nine individuals not representing those teams. The cutline ended up being 3-under-par.

Temescal Canyon’s Nixon Lauritzen just missed out on playing at Poppy Hills after firing a 2-under-par 72. Lauritzen, who finished in a tie for 14th place, carded six birdies four bogeys during his round Wednesday.

Western Christian’s Tony Tao tied for 21st place (73), while Diamond Bar’s Logan Park finished in a tie for 24th place (74).

Norco’s Baron Nguyen shot 75, Andy Yu of Los Osos and Bear Huff of King each shot 76 and Diamond Bar’s Samson Li shot 77.