Royal High golfer Matt Hoffenberg said he nearly didn't play in Monday's CIF-Southern Section Northern Individuals at Sterling Hills Golf Club.

Hoffenberg is playing in a U.S. Open qualifying tournament today and seriously considered skipping Monday's event because he didn't want to miss two consecutive days of school.

But Hoffenberg opted to play, and the senior made the most out of the decision.

Hoffenberg fired a 4-under-par 67 to finish second in the event, one stroke behind medalist Bobby Barajas of Righetti.

"I felt it (a big round) coming," Hoffenberg said. "I have been in control of my game for a while now.

"I have been real consistent, but my putting has held me back. I made a few putts today. I was hitting my driver well and I just played solid and didn't make too many mistakes."

Thirty golfers advanced from Monday's event to the CIF-SS Finals, which will be held May 23 at the PGA of Southern California Course in Beaumont. In addition to Hoffenberg, five other county players are among the 30 moving onto the finals: Danny Katz, Royal (73); Adam Carter, St. Bonaventure (72); Mike Flynn, Oxnard (75); Paul Misko, Royal (73); and Jordan Cuthbert (71), Rio Mesa.

Cole Pensanti of Oak Park was one of six golfers who tied at 76. The six had a playoff with two earning the final two spots. Pensanti was knocked out of the playoff on the first hole after making a bogey.

Even before losing out in the playoff, Pensanti was disappointed with his play.

"I came in playing well, so I was expecting to shoot under par," Pensanti said. "I did not make any putts. I missed a couple of 3-footers for par and missed a 5-foot putt for birdie. I also had a couple of three putts."

Simi Valley's J.D. Archibald, who won the Marmonte League individual title last week, had a tough day, shooting a 7-over 78.

Archibald said he hit the ball well, but had a couple of bad breaks that cost him.

"I made two doubles after shots that really weren't that bad, and I grounded my putter and the ball moved (costing him a penalty stroke)," Archibald said.

"I had two 6-irons and a 5-iron into the (three) par 5s, and I was even on them, so that was bad. I am disappointed, but I have a lot of other tournaments I can do well in."

Since he is only a junior, Archibald will get another shot at the CIF Finals next year. But unfortunately for Oaks Christian senior Michael Casca, who shot a 77, this was his last shot.

Casca reached the SCGA Regionals last year, but Monday's 77 ended his high school career.

"The cool thing and the tough thing about this (format) is that you have to be on on the days of the tournament," Casca said. "It's one round, so that can either help you or can bite you pretty hard and that's what happened today.

"I was struggling and there was not a lot I could have done to help myself. I was grinding as hard as I could. I had five or six lip-outs, so things just didn't go my way."

Royal's Kyle Holden also had a disappointing day, but only after he finished playing. Holden shot 32 on the back nine, but the player keeping Holden's score put that number in the space where his score from hole No. 18 was supposed to go.

Holden didn't catch the mistake before signing the card. So instead of being credited with a 74 and moving to the next round, Holden took a 102.

"I used to insist on players checking their scorecard hole by hole, but we've kind of gotten away from it," Royal coach Bob Misko said. "The rule is back now, but I guess it's like closing the barn door after the cow got out.

"This was one of those inadvertent events and it's a crying shame. The only bit of good news is that he will only miss one round because by us qualifying for the SCGA tournament as a team, he will be able to compete there."

Rio Mesa sophomore Jordan Cuthbert will be making his first trip to the CIF finals, thanks to his 71.

He made back-to-back bogeys on 14 and 15, but got those strokes back with an eagle on the par-5 16th.

"It was almost a double eagle," he said. "I hit a 4-iron from 205 yards and it hit the flag stick and just bounced out. That kind of carried me the rest of the way.