GOLF NOTEBOOK: COC GOLFERS IN THE RIGHT PLACE - ON TOP.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

It appears to be more of the same for the men's golf program at College of the Canyons, where coach Gary Peterson's defending Western State Conference champions have an 82-2-1 record and look strong enough to challenge for the school's third state title.

With six conference matches remaining, the Cougars (50-1-1 in WSC) lead second-place Moorpark by 14 matches.

As in past years, COC is thriving with a team consisting of returning veterans, talented foreign players and practice-toughened redshirts.

Tommy Barber, last year's conference MVP, is the top returning player in a starting six that includes freshman Daniel Marsh from Perth, Australia. The redshirts are Tommy Mansuwan (El Camino Real High of Woodland Hills), Brad Uptegraft (Valencia High), Anthony Harju (Alemany of Mission Hills) and Jay Montes, who won the Los Angeles City Section individual title as a Sylmar High senior in 2000.

``On any given day, any one of those six could be low man,'' Peterson said, ``and the best part is, they all know that.''

The Cougars are coming off the best performance in school history - an 11-under-par 349 showing at par-72 Tierra Rejada on Monday, when Montes shot 68, Uptegraft, Mansuwan and Marsh shot 70, Barber shot 71 and Harju 73.

``Players one through six, this is one of my strongest teams,'' said Peterson, who has produced more than a dozen conference championship teams and nine state finalists - winning state in 1991 and 2000 - since starting at Canyons in 1984.

Peterson's redshirt training program, which has been the mainstay of the Cougars' long-running success, this year includes the talented High Desert trio of Lawrence Jarvey and Jason Broom from Palmdale's Highland High and long-hitting Jacob Curtier, who won the Golden League individual title last year at Quartz Hill.

``All three are lifting weights and practicing hard,'' said Peterson, who met with the three freshmen before the season to give them his thoughts on the benefits of a redshirt year. ``I told them how I didn't want them to squander their opportunity (to earn a college golf scholarship). They've been real productive.''

Another freshman, former Monroe of North Hills star Glen Wright, also is redshirting for the Cougars.

``He's got a great swing and he's getting more confidence,'' said Peterson, who has seen past COC players blossom with the extra season of practice.

``(Marsh and Barber) were outstanding coming out of high school,'' Peterson said. ``If a kid comes in with a great game, he's going to play (immediately). If he's willing to work with us, he'll grow and prosper and get better as a golfer.''

--The great race: Valencia took a big step in its bid to dethrone Foothill League champion Hart by tying the Indians at De Bell GC in Tuesday's second league match. Hart, which holds a one-point lead over the Vikings, got a team-best 74 from Joey Kroagman. Brandon Christianson was match medalist at 73 for Valencia.

--Super season: Hart senior Brian Edick is six under par for the Indians after 13 tournaments this season. He had one of his best efforts in a 393-401 nonleague victory over Santa Barbara on Monday, shooting even-par 71 with four birdies on the wind-buffeted Robinson Ranch Mountain course.

--Playoff contenders: Although Hart and Valencia are the top contenders for the Foothill League title, Canyon and Saugus are waging their own battle for the league's third and final berth in the Southern Section playoffs. After two of five league matches, Canyon holds a one-point lead over Saugus - which got a strong 76 from Ryan Keith in Tuesday's league tournament at De Bell.