By John M. Sherrard
(Oceanside, CA) With a late-season surge, Mt. SAC freshman golfer Dylan Stone qualified for the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships with a 74 in the second round at the Southern California Regionals at the El Camino Country Club in Oceanside this past week.
Stone, with a two-round score of 152 (78, 74), was one of six golfers to advance to state that were competing as an individual. The Mt. SAC golf team didn't qualify as a team but sophomore James Hochsprung and Stone represented the Mounties in the So Cal Regionals.
Stone had to get to the bottom three scores just to advance to the Regionals.
"I'm excited that Dylan qualified for state," Mt. SAC coach Greg Osbourne said. "He's got a real good shot at state.
"And I thank James for what he did for us this season."
Hochsprung, who had a very good season averaging a 75, missed the cut to advance to the state championships by one stroke.
Stone will represent Mt. SAC at the Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande next Monday, May 15.
"I didn't picture this and it's incredible now that I'm going," Stone said. "I felt good going into the second round and (Monday) I finished well."
The key to Stone qualifying was the 17th hole in the second round. He was only two over par throughout the round and needed to finish well.
"The 17th was the hardest on the course," said Osbourne, who is a member of the PGA. "Dylan knocked it three feet from the hole and got a birdie.
"For him to do that on this course was unbelievable. His score is what made it and because of his second-round 74, he made it."
Stone, who has a 4.0 GPA, had to get a birdie or par on the 18th to qualify. He bogied the 18th but still made the cut.
He was the No. 4 golfer on the team during the season and was averaging in the low 80's and was having trouble finishing rounds, but turned his game around at the So Cal's with a pair of 74's.
"I've been working hard on my putting and (Monday) I finished well," Stone said. "Coach Osbourne did a great job getting the players for this team and I can't thank him enough for everything."
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