Golf (Boys) | 5/22/2025 8:04:00 AM

In a performance for the ages, Cathedral Catholic's boys golf team delivered a historic finish at the CIF San Diego Section Championships, capturing the overall team title and the Division II crown with authority. The Dons didn't just win, they dominated, finishing 32 strokes ahead of perennial powerhouse Torrey Pines, who claimed the Division I title but fell well short of Cathedral's mark.

The Dons' overall team score of +21 was the best of the tournament, making Cathedral the top golf team in the entire San Diego Section. Four Dons finished in the top 10 individually, a remarkable display of consistency and excellence that left no doubt about who ruled the course.

Leading the charge was senior Michael Riebe, who finished as the individual runner-up at 1-under-par, just one stroke behind Torrey Pines' Evan Liu. Riebe's round was nothing short of electric, with a rollercoaster mix of birdies, bogeys, and an eagle, capped by a clutch birdie on the iconic 18th hole of the Torrey Pines South Course.

"I knew the birdies were going to come," said Riebe, who will play collegiately at Vanderbilt. "I was just waiting for it all to happen."

Joining Riebe at the top of the leaderboard was sophomore Oliver Mayson, who finished third overall at 2-over-par. Mayson began the final round with a one-shot lead and hung tough against the strongest field in the section.

Overall, Cathedral had four golfers in the top 10, a feat unmatched by any other school in the tournament.

"This group is special," said head coach Joe Filippone. "We've worked all season for this moment. To beat a team like Torrey Pines, who've dominated for a decade, shows just how far our program has come. They're the evil empire and today, we were Luke Skywalker."

The win secures Cathedral Catholic's spot in the SoCal Regional Championship, to be held May 29 at Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills. Both Cathedral and Torrey Pines qualified as teams, while top individuals from other schools will also advance.

As the Dons prepare for regionals, they do so with confidence and the distinction of being the #1 golf team in San Diego and perhaps, soon, all of Southern California.

Cathedral's CIF Highlights (Check out complete scoring breakdown HERE):
Team Champions: Cathedral Catholic (+21 overall)
Division II Champions
Defeated Torrey Pines by 32 strokes
Michael Riebe: 2nd Place (-1)
Oliver Mayson: 3rd Place (+2)
4 Dons in Top 10 Overall
SoCal Regional Qualifiers – May 29 at Los Serranos

Congratulations to our Dons golf team for an incredible championship performance!