(Industry, CA) Coming down to the last few matches in the Orange Empire Conference race, the Mt. SAC Men's Golf Team are tied for first with Cypress College after a third-place finish in Match #5 Wednesday (4/10) at Pacific Palms Resort at Industry Hills.
The Mounties (3-2) came into the home-course event with a two-match lead, but the conference race tightened up as Cypress went 5-0 and Orange Coast placed second with a 4-1 record. Finishing fourth was Saddleback (2-3), followed by Irvine Valley College (1-4) and Riverside City College (0-5).
Cypress (378) finished with a 10-stroke lead over OCC (388), followed by the Mounties with a 390 on the tough Babe Zaharias, Par-71 course. Saddleback finished fourth with a 397, IVC (403), fifth and RCC (411) in sixth.
With Match #6 and the OEC Championships remaining, the Mounties are tied for first with Cypress with 28-7 records, followed by Orange Coast at 27-8. Only the top three teams advance to the CCCAA Southern California Regionals.
The low medalist for Match #5 was Connor O'Hern of OCC with a 1-over 72.
Mt. SAC's Blake Copeland, who has been one of the most consistent golfers on the team this year averaging 74.2, carded a team-low 76 (38-38). He had one birdie and five pars on the first nine holes and pars on six of his last seven holes on the back nine.
Julio Ibarra, Cameron Smith and Chu-Wen (Felix) Tsui all carded 78's, followed by Josh Song with an 80 and Hanseop Lee with a non-scoring 85.
Match #6 will take place next Monday (4/15) at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita, hosted by Saddleback College, followed by the OEC Championships hosted by Mt. SAC Monday (4/29).
Orange Empire Conference Standings (As of April 10)
Team Record
Cypress 28-7
Mt. SAC 28-7
OCC 27-8
Saddleback 10-25
RCC 7-28
IVC 5-30
Follow Mt. SAC Men's Golf on twitter @MtSAC_MGolf
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.