TORONTO--Orange Lutheran sophomore Blake Barens is making internation headlines with his outstanding play on the golf course. Last week Barens went 3-0 in a match play tournament to lead Team USA over Canada at the prestigious North America Cup. This tournament is modeled after the Ryder Cup, and features fourteen of the best golfers in the United States paired against Canada's top talents. Barens was one of only two players to go undefeated at the event, the other was his teammate Tyler Smith from Servite High School, two of five players from Orange County at the tournament.

On the final day Barens defeated the Canadian team captain in match play 2 and 1, highlighted by his 5 birdies on the front nine. 

"I was really excited to represent Team USA." Barens said, "It was a totally different feeling than any other tournament. Usually the pressure is just on yourself, but this was a whole different kind of pressure to have a chance to represent my country." 

The North America Cup was held at Weston Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Canada. It is known to golf fans as the place where Arnold Palmer won his first PGA trophy at the 1955 Canadian Open. This tournament has also included many top golfers of today such as Ricky Fowler and Servite High School graduate Preston Valder. 
While Orange Lutheran golf may not be hitting the links this time of year, for Blake this is far from his offseason. He is partaking in a national schedule, where since Trinity League finals he has played two tournaments in Florida, two in South Carolina, and will be traveling to Massachusetts at the end of July. But next for Blake is what some consider to be the US Open of Junior golf, the Junior World Championship at Torrey Pines. Torrey Pines was the host of the 2008 US Open, where Tiger Woods won his last major. Barens was the low score at the qualifier shooting a 66 making himself eligible for the event.

As for Lancer golf, head coach Jeff Anderson is very excited about what Blake has done this summer and likes what it does for his team.

Anderson claims, "It helps the other boys on the team see the success that Blake has had and what he has achieved." He continues, "Blake's achievements are not just a result of his talent, but he puts in the work and is doing what it takes to be a great golfer."

Barens dreams to one day be a professional golfer and is seemingly taking all the right steps to get there. Even through all of this success he is determined to get to the next level and remains humble and proud to be playing for his school and his country over for himself.

Trenton Schlom
Senior Reporter
Lancer Sports Network