Mission accomplished: Confident Palm Desert golf team advances to state qualifier
Palm Desert arrived at Thursday's CIF regional state qualifier at Temecula Creek Inn Golf Course with the primary objective being to finish in the top four to advance to next week's state qualifying tournament. But the Aztecs also wanted to gain a measure of redemption for last year.
They accomplished both.
The Aztecs, who missed advancing from this event in 2023 by one measly stroke, moved on comfortably on Thursday with a solid even-par team round of 360 at the CIF-SS regional state qualifier. That score put them in a tie for second place, two strokes off the pace.
With a top-four finish, this talented group advances to Wednesday's state qualifier. The top three teams at that event, played at Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills, will represent Southern California in the state finals against the top three teams from Northern California.
That's the ultimate goal for this group, and it's an attainable one, but Thursday's step was an important hurdle they hadn't cleared in the last two years.
"Two years ago we won (CIF-SS title) but there was a violation and our season ended right there. Then last year we missed by one stroke, so this is very satisfying for a lot of these guys who have been on the team through all of that," said Palm Desert coach Curt Breitfuss. "At the same time, you can see they are kind of ho-hum about the score because they feel like they can do even better. I expect us to have a little more energy and an extra kick in our step next week. It's a place we haven't been in a while."
Sophomore Luke Ringkamp had the best round of the day for the Aztecs with a 3-under 69. Max Margolis was next with a 70, followed by Caden Breisch at 73, Austin Woods at 74 and Mason Montgomery at 74. In the six-play-five-count format, Landon Breisch was the odd man out with a 75. The 360 team total was three strokes better than last year's 363 that left them on the outside looking in.
The round of the day was turned in by Oaks Christian's Max Emberson, who won the individual title with a sizzling 8-under 64. He finished one shot better than Nixon Lauritsen of Temescal Canyon, who fired a 65 on his home course.
The team title went to San Marcos with a 2-under 358. Palm Desert and Orange Lutheran tied at 360 and Oaks Christian grabbed the all-important fourth spot with a 363.
There was a seventh Aztec on the course Thursday playing only in the individual portion of the tournament, and he advanced just like the team did. Cash Tompoles shot an even-par 72, the third-best round of the day among the Aztecs, to advance as an individual to next Wednesday's event. The cut line was 74.
Ringkamp said finishing in the top four Thursday was a good sign, and he seconded his coach's belief that the team didn't feel like it had its A-plus game.
"Last year was extremely disappointing, so it feels great to advance," Ringkamp said. "I think putts didn't really drop today for the team all around, but we just had a steady round. We're happy to advance and let's keep it going."
"When we don't have our A-plus game, we still have our B-plus game and that is still good enough to finish second, missed by two strokes, so that's still pretty good."
So the Aztecs roll into the state qualifier on Wednesday where they will be joined by the top teams from the San Diego and Los Angeles sections. After that, it's the state final, the ultimate destination, and with the depth of talent in this group, there's no reason not to think big.
"Feels good to advance. Our goal was to win, we didn't finish that goal today, but we're saving it for next week and then the week after that," said Max Margolis, who hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation on Thursday with four birdies and two bogeys. "I know we can play even better golf, so we move forward with a good positive mindset and a mindset that we can win it all."
Ringkamp agreed.
"We have 'all the way' in our bag, I know we do. We have the depth. I'm feeling good, feeling excited," Ringkamp said.
Ringkamp wins U.S. Open qualifier
Thursday's effort was just part of a memorable week for Ringkamp with the highlight coming Tuesday when he won a local U.S. Open qualifier to remain in the running for a coveted spot in the U.S. Open.
In a U.S. Open local qualifier at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert, Ringkamp carded a 4-under 68 to win the qualifier and grab one of five spots into the U.S. Open final qualifying on June 3. His bogey-free round included four birdies, including three of the four par 5s.
"All I can say is third time's a charm. I tried it the last two years and I didn't play too well. This year I obviously played well," said Ringkamp, who added that Ironwood is his home course and he took advantage of that. "Yeah, I was out there every day, looking at the pin locations and hitting the putting green and anything I could do. I was prepared and I was confident heading into it. It was really like a cruising round. No bogeys so that always helps, lot of good par saves. That's really what helped me and eventually the birdies came."
Ringkamp said he expects his next phase on June 3 to be in Bend, Oregon, at Pronghorn Golf Club designed by Jack Nicklaus, but he'll find out for sure May 25.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Mission accomplished: Palm Desert golf team advances to state qualifier
