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Sunny Hills senior Cole Kim is The Register’s Orange County boys golfer of the year for 2026. (Courtesy of Scott Enrico)
ALL-ORANGE COUNTY BOYS GOLF TEAM 2026
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Cole Kim, Sunny Hills, Senior
Sunny Hills golfer Cole Kim isn’t the most physically imposing figure, but an internal desire provides all the strength he needs.
From playing for his teammates and father, to a tireless work ethic, the 5-foot-5 Kim delivers powerful drives to complement his short game.
Kim harnessed the motivating factors at the CIF-SCGA Southern California Regional. He shot a career-best 9-under-par to capture the prestigious tournament and lead the Lancers to not only the team title but a long-sought trip to the CIF State championships.
In 2025, Sunny Hills missed qualifying for the state tournament by two strokes.
“It’s cool that we were able to regroup for this past year and just push through each round in finally making it,” said Kim, The Register’s Orange County boys golfer of the year for 2026. “All the guys, they’ve been so fun to be around.”
“It was pretty cool also just to see everyone’s scores improve,” he added.
Kim claimed the SoCal regional title by shooting a 9-under-par 65 at Los Serranos Golf Club.
The UC San Diego commit recorded nine birdies, including one from about 35 feet, en route to etching his name on a trophy that includes past winners such as Tiger Woods (Western).
“The putts, they were dropping all over the place,” Kim said.
Kim’s victory highlighted a blistering playoffs. He navigated the four individual postseason tournaments by shooting a combined 12-under-par, the best for O.C. competitors.
“He had an insane postseason,” Sunny Hills coach Scott Enrico said of Kim, who tied for third in the CIF-SS individual tournament and shot a 5-under-par 67 at the CIF-SS Division 1 team final. “I told him (after last season) that he’s the new leader of this team and all the boys already look up him.”
“It all came together for him at the SCGA,” the coach added.
Kim said his father Albert also motivates him on the course and academically as a straight-A student.
A few years ago, Kim’s father was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Around the same time, Kim transferred to Sunny Hills from Crescenta Valley. It was challenging time for the family, including Kim’s mother Grace.
“He’s doing better now,” Kim said of father. “He’s been a fighter.”
Kim carries that spirit onto the course.
Los Alamitos boys golf coach John Haygood, pictured far left with his team, is The Register’s Orange County coach of the year for 2026. (Courtesy of Sarah Reilly)
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Haygood, Los Alamitos
In his 24th season, Haygood guided the Griffins to the CIF State championships for the first time.
Haygood led a roster with five key returners to a third-place finish at state, which was played at San Gabriel Country Club.
Faced with challenging pin placement for the final, Los Alamitos formed a pack behind Levi Reilly.
The sophomore carded a 3-under-par 68 to finish second as an individual. The supporting cast included Akinobu Yano and Brandon Bae at 75 and Seth Thao with a 76.
Haygood focused on sharpening the mental approach of his players.
“They all have their own private swing instructors,” he said. “I keep track of their mental game and decision making.”
Haygood’s efforts showed.
Los Alamitos edged Trinity League champion Santa Margarita by one stroke at the CIF-SCGA SoCal regional for the third and final state berth.
The Griffins signaled their postseason intentions at the SCGA qualifier. They tied Santa Margarita for first place at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard.
Los Alamitos formed another back behind Reilly, who shot a 2-under-par 70. Yano (71), Bae (72) and Sean Yi (72) weren’t far behind.
The Griffins (19-1), the Sunset League champion, made the run after finishing eighth in Division 1. They were 18th in Division 1 in 2025.
“This group of golfers (features) outstanding individuals and great students,” Haygood said. “That makes my job easy.”
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
Cole Kim, Sunny Hills, Sr. (Player of the Year)
Gianni Floriani, Mater Dei, Jr.
Floriani highlighted a strong postseason by becoming the first Mater Dei boy to claim the CIF-SS individual title. He shot 8-under-par in three individual postseason tournaments.
Mater Dei junior golfer Gianni Floriani won the CIF-SS individual championship with a 6-under-par 66 at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard on Thursday, May 21, 2026. (Courtesy of Ryan Kelaher)
Matthew Hull, Corona del Mar, Sr.
The UCLA commit finished third at the Ayala tournament, won the Sunset League title and tied for fifth at a sectional regional. He finished ninth in the section in iWanamaker Rating.
Brayden Jones, Mater Dei, Jr.
The Register’s 2025 O.C. player of the year dominated the regular season by winning the Ayala tournament, Champions’ Invitational, Palmetto tournament in Myrtle Beach and Trinity League. Jones, who is committed to Arizona State, shot an 8-under-par 64 for the low score at the Division 1 team finals. He led the section in iWanamaker Rating at 2.2
Peter Oh, Anaheim Discovery Christian, Sr.
Oh, who signed with Eastern Washington, qualified for state after tying for fifth at the SoCal regional. He finished the four postseason tournaments at even-par.
Anaheim Discovery Christian coach Victor Chayasirisobhon, far left, guided golfers Lorenzo Sinjem, second from left, Peter Oh and Keita Yobiko, far right, to first-team All-County honors. (Courtesy of Victor Chayasirisobhon)
Levi Reilly, Los Alamitos, So.
Reilly shot a 3-under-par 68 to finish second and pace county golfers at the CIF State championships. He finished 7-under-par for the four individual postseason tournaments.
Lorenzo Sinjem, Anaheim Discovery Christian, Sr.
The Academy League champion tied for second at the SoCal regional and placed 14th at state. Sinjem, who is committed to Cal State Dominguez Hills, shot 6-under-par in the four individual postseason tournaments.
Keita Yobiko, Anaheim Discovery Christian, Jr.
The Academy League runner-up placed second at the Southern regional, fifth at CIF-SS individual championships, fifth at SoCal regional and seventh at state. He finished 11-under-par in the postseason individual tournaments.
Sunny Hills freshman golfer Jansen Baek won the CIF-SS Central individual regional at Bear Valley Country Club in Victorville on May 11, 2026. (Courtesy of Scott Enrico)
ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM
Jansen Baek, Sunny Hills, Fr.
Felipe Jikal, Sunny Hills, Jr.
Oscar Liang, Santa Margarita, Fr.
Ben Matsuda, Portola, So.
Hanks Wang, Servite, Sr.
Anthony Wu, Santa Margarita, So.
Dylan Zhang, Santa Margarita, Fr.
Servite’s boys golf team captured the CIF-SS Division 1 title on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at El Dorado Park Golf Course in Long Beach. (Courtesy of Dane Jako)
Note: Individual postseason performance and iWanamaker Rating were factored in the selections of the All-County boys golf teams.