PREP PREVIEW 1993: GOLF : Esperanza

Coach: Al Safallo (11th year)

1992: 11-7, 6-4; third place in the Empire League; finished in 11th-place tie with Foothill in the Southern Section Southern Regional.

Key returners: Chris Berry, Jr., averaged 78; Dan Fugate, Sr; Dave Gilbert, Sr; Jason Henderson, Jr; Bill Kelly, Jr.; Scott Lucidi, Jr.

Key newcomers: Ryan Donovan, Fr.; Chris Fox, Sr., transfer from Troy.

Outlook: Safallo believes his team is in for a battle with defending Empire League-champion Los Alamitos, because both teams haven’t been this strong in the same season since 1986, when they finished second and third, respectively, in the Southern Regional. Safallo likes the depth of his team, which likely will be led by Berry, who won the Empire League individual title as a sophomore and finished in a tie for third place in the Southern Section individual championships as a freshman. Last summer, six Esperanza players shot rounds of 75 or better. “We have got a pretty good team her,” Safallo said. “I think we’re going to make it interesting.”