Chatsworth, Birmingham Double-Team Granada Hills

The City Section golf champion was crowned Tuesday and for the first time in five years it isn’t Granada Hills High.

Chatsworth ended four years of domination by the Highlanders when it took its first City championship Tuesday at Wilson Golf Course in Griffith Park.

Granada Hills held a 396-408 lead over the Chancellors after Monday’s first round, but shot 425 to Chatsworth’s 401 on Tuesday.

Birmingham, which trailed Granada Hills by six shots after the first round, also passed the Highlanders with a round of 416 and earned the City’s other berth in the CIF-SCGA championships on June 3.

“It’s been our goal to come out and win this all year,” Chatsworth captain Todd Golditch said. “But it’s especially sweet to beat Granada Hills.”

Birmingham’s Greg Goodfried, a four-year varsity player, echoed the sentiment.

“After having been beat for four years, it’s nice to have another team win it,” he said. “It’s tough to see one team dominate like [Granada Hills].”

Chatsworth, which moved from the 4-A league to the more competitive 5-A league three seasons ago, won the 5-A title last season. But a disappointing third-place finish in the City finals brought new motivation.

“We just said we weren’t going to lose this year,” said Marco Evans, a Chatsworth junior. “We knew we had the potential last year and we wanted to make sure we all came together.”

Facing 12-stroke deficit, Chatsworth Coach Dick Pendergast said he didn’t think this would be the year either.

“This is surprising,” Pendergast said. “I didn’t think we’d be here but the kids rose to the occasion.”

Golditch struggled to a 79 after an opening 74 but Jeff Lawler improved from 78 to 75. Evans improved from 83 to 77.

Burley Stamps of Palisades became the first African American in recent memory to win the individual title with consecutive 73s for a 146. He was seven strokes in front of Golditch and Jeff Lawler of Chatsworth, who tied for second.

Birmingham’s Scott Bashin, who shot a first-round 84, shot a tournament-tying best round of 72 and tied teammate Keith Romar for fourth at 156. Goodfried, first-round leader at 72, ballooned to an 85 and tied Chris Penman of Granada Hills for sixth.

Saki Uechi of Granada Hills shot rounds of 85 and 82 to win the girls’ championship by two strokes over teammate and defending champion Julie Park, who shot 80-89.