PREP GOLF: HART, VALENCIA CONTINUE TO SET PACE.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

The streak is over for Hart High ... but not the motivation.

Until this week, the Indians had not lost a Foothill League varsity golf match since coach Dennis Ford took over the program in 1990, starting an 11-year title run halted only by a postseason disqualification last year.

Valencia, which was moved up to champion as a result of that ineligibilty ruling, took a step toward another title Tuesday, winning the first Foothill League tournament of the season to end one of the longest league winning streaks in the state.

The Vikings' three-point win at De Bell GC in Burbank marked the second time they had knocked off the Indians this year, following a season-opening eight-stroke victory in nonleague play at Robinson Ranch.

Ford takes - excuse the expression - heart from the improvement his team has made between those two matches with the best team in Valencia history, one he believes will bring out the best in his final Hart team.

``The night is young,'' said Ford, who will retire this season after more than 30 years at the Newhall school. ``There are four more (league tournaments) to go, and even if we lose one, we're not out of it.''

The next comes Tuesday at Vista Valencia, home course for Hart and Valencia, and Ford expects improved play from both teams. Neither played up to its potential at De Bell, where Valencia and Hart combined for just four scores in the 70s and scoring players on both teams averaged more than 10 strokes over par.

Ford said he was not surprised:

``Two good teams shooting it out and both get just really, really tight,'' he said.

``I have seen this happen year after year every time Hart plays Westlake (a two-time state champion and perennial Southern Section power). Both teams get tighter than nails. Can you swing a golf club in that situation? Not very likely.''

Ford anticipates less nervousness and better shooting from both teams next week.

``The next match, both teams are likely to shoot lights out. This was the first big (league) match and everybody was tighter than a drum.''

--A welcome challenge: Regardless of how his team fares in league this year, Ford is enjoying the challenge:

``I love the competition,'' he said. ``Good competition makes your kids better. For 10 or 11 years, we haven't had any kind of competition in league to speak of and this is going to help us.

``I wish some of our previous teams had this kind of competition. We've had our toughest schedule this year, without a shadow of doubt.''

--Opening jitters? Valencia coach Rusty Swisher agreed with Ford that scores were not up to expectations in Tuesday's league opener, despite playing conditions he said were excellent.

``All of the coaches expected more,'' he said of the six-team tournament that also included Burroughs, Canyon, Burbank and Saugus, the 3-4-5-6 finishers, respectively.

Only six players shot in the 70s - medalist Josh Vanek (71) and Brian Edick (73) of Hart, Valencia's Brandon Christianson (77) and Matt Bastone (79) and Burroughs' Mike Vahoviak (78) and Jason Buttress (78).

--Vikes on verge: ``We're clustering and we're throwing our clusters together,'' Swisher said of his 11-2 Vikings. ``Someone is going to break out and it might be four of the six on one day.''

--More challenge: Valencia might be focused on Hart, but the Vikings also have other formidable competition coming up next week - Westlake at North Ranch on Monday and Campbell Hall at Griffith Park Wilson on Thursday.

Campbell Hall defeated Valencia 166-172 at Vista Valencia. Westlake is 12-1, coming off a 384-399 win over Simi Valley at Wood Ranch, where four Westlake players shot 78 or better.