Live Oak's Kevin Mom makes a chip shot during Tuesday's CIF-CCS Regional finals at Rancho Ca'ada. Mom finished 14-over-par 71, failing to qualify for next week's section championships.
Adverse conditions, fast greens and a few wayward drives hampered Kevin Mom's second showing in the CIF-Central Coast Section Regional Golf Championships at Carmel.
At the same facility where the Live Oak senior placed 14th a year ago, Mom settled for 56th Tuesday, finishing the 3,194-yard West Course of Rancho Ca'ada Golf Club at 14-over-par 71.
Mom teed off in the opening flight and shot even par for most of the front nine. He ran into trouble, though, after his birdie on No. 10.
"I was putting well," Mom said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "I was getting unlucky bounces and kind of pushing drives right.
"It was a lot colder and windier, too. The course was in better shape last year."
Added Live Oak coach Tony Goble: "It was very difficult on the back nine. It was very narrow with a lot of trees. He had a couple blow-up holes - not to make excuses or anything. It was a tough day."
Mom shot 3-up at Rancho Ca'ada last season. He carded birdies on the fifth and 10th holes Tuesday.
Mom fell short of qualifying for next week's section finals round, where he tied for 57th place in 2007.
"It was fun just to be back there," he added. "It was a really good season."
Mom's season is over, but he plans to practice this summer, getting ready to play for New Mexico State in fall and next spring.
In other action Tuesday, Mountain View's Adam Ichikawa defended his Regional I title, finishing 2-under at 69 - one stroke better than Dylan Smith of St. Ignatius.
Menlo-Atherton edged Mountain View by three strokes at 385 to win the regional team championship.
Scott Adams Scott Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
