SANTA FE SPRINGS — Westlake High boys' golf coach Dave Costley said it wasn't that long ago a team posting five scores in the 70s had a great chance to either win a tournament or come close.

Thursday's CIF-Southern Section Boys Team Final Championship at Candlewood Country Club in Santa Fe Springs is evidence of how times have changed.

All five of Westlake's scores that counted toward its team total were in the 70s, including Brandon Hagy's team-low 3-over 73, allowing the Warriors to post a very respectable team total of 381. Unfortunately for Westlake, seven teams posted scores even lower.

Led by medalist Kevin Lim, who fired a 6-under 64, Sunny Hills of Fullerton won the team title with a score of 359. Channel League champion Santa Barbara finished second for the second straight year, posting a team score of 366. Those two teams, along with Brea-Olinda (368) and Harvard-Westlake (372) advance to the SCGA Southern California Championships later this month.

"We came down with the goal of win it or advance and we didn't do either," Costley said. "We didn't play particularly well. You either play well or you don't. You can't point your finger at one person, they all played pretty much worse than they have the last five weeks.

"The kids had trouble putting and they didn't hit real smart shots. They hit their drivers on too many holes, the stuff that dumb golf is made of. I feel bad for Scott (Patterson, the team's lone senior) because it's his last match. But we'll try again next year."

Patterson, who shot an 84, said he let the course get to him.

"It's the worst round I have played in several years," Patterson said. "I didn't feel any extra pressure today, I just didn't have it. It's a disappointing way to end the season."

To a man, all six Westlake players said the biggest problem during the round was the extremely challenging greens at Candlewood Country Club.

"The greens were difficult," said junior Marshall Colby. "It was the worst putting day of my life coming at the wrong time. I had a lot of trouble with the speed. It would have helped a lot to have played a practice round here.

"I hit a lot of shots that I thought wee perfect that hit a tree or ended up in trouble. It's a really hard to make shots up on this course."

Hagy's round of 73 included 37 putts, a figure that shows just how much of a factor the slick greens were.

"I hit the ball really well, but I could not figure out the greens," Hagy said. "I did not get a good feel, especially the speed. I lipped four times from 10 feet. If they had been the right speed they probably would have gone in. I just could not get anything to drop. I never felt comfortable all day on the greens."

Westlake posted one of the best seasons in school history, breaking many scoring records. Having played so well all year could have worked against his team on Thursday, Costley said.

"Some of get to a point where they say it's not going to happen today and kind of give up," Costley said. "It's been a great season. It's too bad it ended here, but we made it to the big show. And we have a great nucleus for next year."