Seasoned Sea Kings full of flavor, depth

Bryce Alderton

This season for Corona del Mar High boys golf coach Mike Starkweather

brings with it a certain element of uncertainty, but that is a good

thing in his mind.

Starkweather said each player on this year’s team has the

capability to be the medalist, making the seventh-year coach breathe

a little easier.

“There is not one guy who we will depend on,” Starkweather said.

“They have to depend on each other and that makes for a great team

concept. This will be a balanced attack.”

CdM returns four from a team that won its second straight Pacific

Coast League title last season, including seniors Robert Ury and Alex

Chikovani. Ury and Chikovani have each participated in three CIF team

playoff competitions while Chikovani reached the CIF individual

tournament during his freshman year.

“They both have the skills to play college golf. They just have to

see how this year pans out,” Starkweather said. “These guys hit the

ball like you wouldn’t believe.”

On occasion, Starkweather said each player has hit his drive 300

to 350 yards.

Juniors Ben Tilsen, the team’s low scorer from preseason rounds,

and Zach Rabinovich each return for their second varsity season while

welcoming juniors Matt Story and Eric Miller, who shared Co-Most

Valuable Player honors on CdM’s junior varsity team last year.

Sophomore Jamie Bloom played JV last year and makes the move to

varsity this season.

Four players from last year’s team graduated, including Nick

Sherman, who reached the CIF Southern Regional individual

championship, and Brad Chamberlin.

Sherman now plays for Cal State San Marcos while Chamberlin is at

Irvine Valley College.

The Sea Kings opened with a two-stroke loss to Woodbridge on March

2 and will encounter strong opposition in Mission Viejo, Aliso

Niguel, Esperanza, Cypress and Tesoro. CdM hosted University Tuesday

at Newport Beach Country Club, its home course.

The Sea Kings have to take advantage of NBCC while they can in the

early season before the Toshiba Senior Classic comes to town March

15-21.

“Last year, we split with Tesoro and Tesoro lost to University.

Tesoro came back to win CIF last year,” Starkweather said. “[Tesoro]

will be our toughest competition. Golf is still the only sport in CIF

that doesn’t go by enrollment. You’re going against schools that have

three to four thousand kids. I still don’t think it’s fair.”

The top three teams from each league make the CIF team competition

while the top six players advance to the CIF individual

championships.

“I’m very excited about the season,” Starkweather said. “These

kids have worked real hard in the off-season and have played a lot of

tournaments since last year, so they are well-seasoned.”