GOLF: SAME NAME, DIFFERENT FACE.

Byline: DAVE SHELBURNE Staff Writer

The name sounds familiar. Last year, Danny Hoffenberg was blistering the record book at Royal High of Simi Valley.

He broke the school season scoring standard set by two-time Marmonte League champion Roy Moon, became Royal's first two-time league titlist since Moon (1998-99), advanced to state regional play and received a golf scholarship from Fresno State.

This year, another Hoffenberg is on a roll and making the second-ranked Highlanders the team to beat in the area's best league.

Royal junior Matt Hoffenberg already has shot four under-par rounds - with a season-best 69 - and had a hand in two school team records. He helped the Highlanders shoot 364 two weeks ago, then led Royal to an area best 2-over-par 357 last week _ both at Simi Hills Golf Course in Simi Valley.

While setting those records, the Highlanders knocked off Westlake and Agoura, which have won the past two Marmonte League team titles.

"The league is really good this year," said Westlake coach Dave Costley, whose Warriors have won 13 of the past 14 league titles. "We're four or five teams deep, and maybe six deep.

"Newbury Park is posting some decent scores, Calabasas is playing well, and Westlake, Agoura, Royal and Simi Valley are the top four - not necessarily in that order."

Royal's rise in the team race coincides with Hoffenberg's return.

The Ventura County youth-golf standout, who has won more than 60 junior tournaments and placed third in his age group at the Optimist Junior World Championship as a 14-year-old, quit the Royal team before the end of his freshman season.

"I'd say it was a little bit of burnout," said Hoffenberg, who switched to football - as a 5-foot-9, 145-pound cornerback/receiver.

He played little golf anywhere last year, then discovered he missed the game and tried out for the team again this season, with little apparent rust.

"He's really dedicated to golf now," Costley said. "He could repeat like his brother and win league, but there are four or five kids capable of doing that this year."

Junior Michael Imperato has been the most consistent player on a deep and talented Westlake team Costley said could be his best. Sophomore J.D. Archibald has a season-best 68 for Simi Valley, which shot a school-record 361 while losing to Royal. Chris Baingo of Thousand Oaks shot 66 last year as a junior.

Hoffenberg belongs in that group as much for his experience as his success.

"It definitely helps my confidence," he said of his background in tournament golf, "particularly under pressure - I don't feel it as much."

His goals are much the same as those his brother tracked down so successfully last season: play consistent golf, win the league championship, advance far in the postseason.

"I thought it was really consistent," Hoffenberg described his brother's senior season. "He just shot consistently low scores and never a really high round."

So far, the family pattern is repeating.

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