Stamps Holds On for Title

It seems Burley Stamps of Palisades High has a knack for making history.

But the kind of history he flirted with Tuesday in winning his second consecutive City Section individual golf title at Wilson Golf Course in Griffith Park was not exactly something he would want to be remembered for.

Stamps, a senior who is believed to be the first African-American golf champion in section history, shot a six-under-par 65 Monday in the first round, the lowest score in the history of the City Section tournament.

He began Tuesday’s second round with a six-shot lead then, in what would have been the biggest collapse in section history, almost blew it.

Stamps shot seven-over 79 Tuesday for a total of 144 to defeat Palisades High teammate Chris Whitaker, who started the day 11 strokes behind, by four shots.

“It’s hard to play when you’re up big,” Stamps said. “You don’t feel the pressure to make good shots.”

Stamps made three consecutive bogeys at Nos. 8, 9 and 10, then a double-bogey at No. 12. Whitaker, meanwhile, played the front nine in three-under par and closed to within three shots of Stamps.

Whitaker blew his opportunity, however, with bogeys at 11 and 12 as Stamps regained control with a birdie on the 13th.

“That gave me my confidence back,” Stamps said.

In team competition, Granada Hills defeated defending champion Chatsworth, which held a one-stroke lead before the final round.

The Highlanders shot a season-best 393 on Monday and 398 Tuesday to win by nine strokes.

Saki Uechi of Granada Hills shot 79-81--160 to beat teammate Julie Park by two shots and successfully defended her girls’ individual title.