SOUTHERN SECTION INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP: THREE AREA GOLFERS ADVANCE TO FINALS.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

PALM SPRINGS - Brandon Christianson, Colin Wilcox and Brett Kanda stretched the success of the area's strong underclass golfers Tuesday, all three nonseniors also stretching their seasons with top-22 finishes in the Southern Section individual championship at Canyon Country Club.

Christianson, the Valencia High junior and two-time Foothill League MVP who shot a personal-best 62 two weeks ago, backed that up with a 68 Tuesday to place fourth in the section final behind champion Garret Sapp (66) of Gahr of Pomona.

Wilcox, a Camarillo junior and returning Daily News Co-Player of the Year, tied for fifth at 69. Kanda, a Flintridge Prep of La Canada sophomore who played in last year's U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, shot 71 in the section final to share 11th.

The top 22 finishers earned berths in next Tuesday's season-ending CIF/SCGA Championship at SCGA Members Club in Murrieta.

No one advanced more eventfully than Christianson, whose 4-under-par total included a double-bunker bogey, a tee shot that wedged in a palm tree and another that found a lake. He also birdied three of his first five holes, four of his last seven and shot 1-under par in a two-hole playoff for third place, only to lose by a stroke.

Exciting to watch and, as Christianson noted, ``It was pretty exciting to play, too. I had a couple of misfortunes - the ball in the palm tree was a first - but made just a number of putts outside of 20 feet, hit the ball solid, never really did anything stupid, actually thought about what I was doing.''

Nine other area entries missed the cut of 72 - lowest in section final history - including Simi Hills sophomore Casey Piper (75), who got in as first alternate when Kevin Larson of San Marcos dropped out Saturday.

John Denny of Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta (73), Bruce Beck of Oak Park (74), Joe Greiner of Hart of Newhall and Ben Fox of Oakwood of North Hollywood (both 75), Erik Jarvey of Highland of Palmdale (76), Camarillo's Kyle Dowden (77), Westlake's Brett Perry (79) and Agoura's Jeremy Bovill (80) were the other area participants.