Evan Liu’s Titleist sat on the back corner of Torrey Pines South’s famed par-5 No. 18 green. He was there in two. The hole loomed 45 feet away. The putt would roll downhill and slide to the left. At stake late Wednesday afternoon? Get down in two and Liu, a Torrey Pines High School sophomore, would win the CIF San Diego Section individual golf championship after finishing second a year ago. “That’s where Evan lives,” said Torrey Pines coach Chris Drake. “He lives under pressure and loves those shots.” Liu tapped the putt, watched gravity do its thing and when the ball stopped rolling it was 9 inches from the cup. He tapped in for birdie and his teammates behind the green erupted in a roar. Liu finished the two-round tournament at 2-under-par 141. He shot 1-over 73 on Wednesday. Finishing one stroke back in second place was Cathedral Catholic senior Michael Riebe. Out of 94 golfers, Riebe (1 under) and Classical Academy’s Ethan Schramm (2 under) were the only ones to break par at Torrey South. “Evan’s got immense focus,” said Drake. “He’s all over the place off the course, but when he’s lined up above the ball, his mind is focused on that shot. Not the past shot. Not the next shot. He’s focused on the one he’s taking.” Barely 12 months ago, Liu finished second in the tournament as a freshman by one stroke. He said that since the eighth grade he had finished second too many times to count. “As I’ve gained more experience under pressure in those situations I’ve learned and used that experience,” Liu said. “Now that I’m seeing some results, I’m glad I pulled it out this time.” Liu began the day with a one-shot lead over another sophomore, Cathedral’s Oliver Mayson. Mayson would shoot 4-over 76 and finish alone in third, four shots back. Riebe started three shots back. After three holes, which included a bogey and double bogey, Riebe found himself trailing by five. “I knew the birdies were going to come,” said Riebe. “I was just waiting for it all to happen.” Riebe carded the day’s wildest round, which included a double bogey, three bogeys, four birdies and an eagle. When the Vanderbilt-bound senior went eagle-birdie on 13 and 14, he was back in the hunt. Trailing by one stroke on 18, the left-handed Riebe pulled off one of the day’s best shots. After his drive found a bunker, he hit a 4-iron 227 yards to the green. “One of the most clutch shots I’ve ever seen,” said Cathedral coach Joe Filippone. Riebe, who finished tied for second in the tournament as a sophomore, two-putted for birdie, drawing even with Liu. But when Liu knocked a 4-hybrid 206 yards to the green, Riebe said, “I thought he’d get down in two.” Of Liu’s lag putt, Riebe said, “Great putt. A lot of pressure. He stepped up.” Cathedral won the overall team championship and the Division 2 title at 21-over par. Torrey Pines won the Division 1 title, its 10th straight, at 53 over. The Bishop’s School took Division 3 at 88 over. During Torrey’s 10-year run as D1 champs, Wednesday marked the first time the Falcons weren’t the overall champions. “It feels great to beat Torrey,” said Filippone. “They’re the evil empire. They’re Darth Vader to our Luke Skywalker.” Cathedral and Torrey Pines advance to the SoCal Regional Championship on May 29 at Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills. The top 12 individual not on Torrey Pines and Cathedral also advance to the SoCal Regional. Those 12 golfers are: defending CIF champion Reed Arnaldo and Milton Kromydas of La Costa Canyon; Classical’s Schramm; Clairemont’s Dale Swartwood; La Jolla Country Day’s Charlie Qiu; T.J. Gibbons and J.T. Cochrane of Bishop’s; San Marcos’ Luke Schnider and Josh Prych; Coronado’s Diego Vargas; Carlsbad’s Kaden Chang; Canyon Crest Academy’s Stefan Grosfield and Westview’s Ryan Zhao.