An 18-year-old Murrieta golfer bagged the state CIF Championship in Pebble Beach last week following a sudden-death showdown against two opponents.

Kevin Dougherty capped his final week as a Vista Murrieta High School senior by emerging among the top finishers in a 48-player field with his two-under-par 70 score at Poppy Hills Golf Course.

He shot a par 5 on the first sudden-death hole, defeating two tenacious foes and grabbing the state title.

"It’s awesome," Dougherty said in a telephone interview. "It’s a good way to end senior year."

Dougherty, who has been playing golf for about six years, is a native Murrieta resident.

The slender six-footer is known for his accurate shot placement and is currently transitioning to college life at Oklahoma State University, Advertisement
where he plans to major in economics or business.

According to Dougherty, he has already snared a spot on the college golf team. He said a friend, a Murrieta Valley High graduate who is now a junior at OSU, persuaded him to attend college there.

It was an easy sell, Dougherty said, because he’s convinced the college is "the number one golf school" in the nation. "I’m pretty interested in that," he said.

Dougherty said his plan is to play on his college team and possibly qualify for a golf scholarship there. After earning a degree, he plans to set his sights on joining the pro golf tour. "I’d like to try to make a living on the tour," he said.

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