Moorpark boys' golf team banking on a late-season surge
Musketeers eager to compete with a full squad
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

Photos by IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers PAIR OF ACES- Moorpark High's top two golfers, Neil Soni, left, and Brent Duclos work on their respective games during practice last week at Tierra Rejada Golf Club. MHS is looking forward to the start of Marmonte League tournament play later this month.

A year ago, the Moorpark High boys' golf team came within a few strokes of qualifying for the postseason but couldn't quite crack the top half of the Marmonte League standings and ultimately finished in fifth place.

If the Musketeers can keep their entire starting lineup together for the remainder of this season, something that hasn't always been easy because of outside scheduling conflicts, there's a decent shot the team can take the next step and make the playoffs, said head coach David Chapman.

"I'm expecting that all six of our starters, in the last part of this month, will really begin to pick it up," Chapman said.

"This is my sixth year of coaching, and this is by far the best team I've had. We have our best chance to make CIF with these six guys. Making the top four in the Marmonte League would be dynamite because there is some unbelievable golf being played out here."

Moorpark (6-11 overall, 2-7 in league as of Thursday) is a seniorladen group. Sophomore Matt Mungovan is the only player on the team who won't be collecting a diploma come June. The five seniors are all four-year varsity players.

Brent Duclos and Neil Soni lead the Musketeer attack.

Chapman described Duclos as an "extremely consistent player" who almost always shoots in the mid-to-low 70s. So far this year, Duclos is averaging close to a 77, the coach said.

Soni, who recently posted a club-record 20 at the par-29, nine hole Lake Forrest Golf Course in Orange County, is also an aspiring film and television actor.

Occasionally, Soni is forced to choose between playing in a golf tournament for school or attending an audition in L.A. When it comes to competing in the league matches in a few weeks, however, Soni said the decision has already been made.

"Oh, there's no doubt I've got to be at the league matches," Soni, 17, said. "Those matches are critical for us. We've got five seniors who've worked really hard to get to CIF for the first time in a long time at this school."

When asked which is more difficult, golfing or acting, Soni said it was an easy choice.

"Acting usually comes pretty natural to people," Soni said. "You can either get up on stage or you can't. It takes work, but not as much work as being a great golfer. Anyone can be a golfer, but your success depends on how hard you work."

Moorpark's No. 3 player, Alan Almaguar, also stays busy outside of the golf course. Almaguar is involved in a fire cadets program that sometimes conflicts with Moorpark's match schedule.

After playing for three years at MHS, Almaguar wasn't going to return to the squad for his senior year because he wanted to focus on fire cadets. Chapman, however, wanted Almaguar to finish his golf career and made the senior an offer so that he could compete at least some of the time.

"When he plays, he's dynamite," Chapman said of Almaguar. "It's good that he knows what he wants to do and is going after it. He's a very committed young man."

Kyle Lundgren has been another steady shooter for Moorpark.

Lundgren "hasn't had a real low, low round for us this year," Chapman said, "but he's always consistent right in the middle of our lineup. He isn't going to blow up a round for us."

Weston Giles is the fifth and final Musketeer senior.

As a returning varsity member, Mungovan, the sophomore, was long ago embraced as one of the Musketeers' own.

"He's a little guy who hits it a long ways," Chapman said of Mungovan. "He's a very good player, probably the third-best guy on the team right now."

Known as The Gremlin because of his smallish stature, Mungovan said he's shaken off last year's freshman nerves and is beginning to feel comfortable competing with the upperclassmen. That new comfort level has led to success on the course.

"One of the reasons I've gotten better is because I've been playing with all these great golfers," Mungovan said. "They've been a big help for my game."

With a full squad expected for the first Marmonte League tournament on April 22 at Los Robles Greens in Thousand Oaks, the Musketeers' best golf may be on the horizon.

"The guys are all working hard to improve, and that's what really matters," Chapman said. "Now it's all about performing well at the four league tournaments. That will be huge for us."