(Industry, CA) Mt. SAC freshman golfer James Johnson led the Mounties with a 74 in an Orange Empire Conference Match Tuesday afternoon at Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms Resort.
Johnson had five pars and a birdie on the front nine along with four pars and two birdies on the back nine for his 74 (2-over)on the very difficult Babe Zaharias course.
"James and I worked three hours the day before and it paid off," Mt. SAC Golf Head Coach Greg Osbourne said.
"With that kind of dedication he will be extremely successful and lead the team."
"I'm very proud of James and how hard he is working."
Johnson has shot a season-best 73 and 74 in two of the last three OEC matches.
"I had a good day," Johnson said. "My game hasn't been right recently and I went out and worked over the weekend and got my game in order and shot a good score,"
Johnson had two long putts on the back nine for birdies in the fifth conference match of the season.
The first was a 20-footer on the 522-yard, par five hole 11 and the second birdie came on the 16th hole (418 yd, par four) as he sank a long 25-foot putt.
With his 74 Johnson moved back into the top ten in the conference in average.
"I had a few too many bogeys, so that's why I shot a 74, but next time we'll be in the 60's," said Johnson.
Mt. SAC was the host for the Industry Hills match and the Mounties practice on the picturesque and very tough course.
"I knew which irons to hit and while the other (teams) were hitting drivers, I was hitting irons for safe play and got it on the green and made some putts."
"Regionals are where I want to be and eventually state. I think with my game I'll be able to make it there."
The Mounties, as a team finished 1-4 on the day in the six-team conference, as Cypress was 5-0 and extended its OEC first-place lead to 18-2.
Mt. SAC slipped a notch into fourth place, one win out of third-place Riverside City College and Orange Coast.
The top three teams in conference qualify for the CCCAA Southern California Regionals in May.
Three OEC matches remain plus the conference championships on April 30 at Los Serranos Golf Club in Chino Hills.
Other Mounties individual results on Monday were: Tyler Poepping (78), Curtis Ashton (79), Cole Albert (81) and David Gillette (82).
Mt. SAC will compete in OEC Match No. 6 next Monday, March 26 at Victoria Golf Course in Riverside.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
