(Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) With two matches left to go in the Orange Empire Conference, the Mt. SAC Men's Golf Team finished in third place at Tijeras Creek Golf Club on Monday April 23.

One big reason for the third-place finish was the play of Cole Albert and his low medalist score of 73. Albert, who tied one other golfer for the low round of the day, shot his lowest score of the season.

Mt. SAC tied Cypress with a combined score of 393, just three shots behind second-place Saddleback.

The tie for was broken by the score of the No. 6 golfer on each team. The Cypress golfer withdrew with a no score giving the Mounties the advantage.

"Cole has really improved his game at the perfect time," Mt. SAC Men's Golf coach Greg Osbourne said.

"We are coming into the conference championship with the confidence that we will qualify as a team for the So Cal Regionals."

On Monday April 30, the OEC finals at Los Serranos Golf Club in Chino Hills will have two rounds with two separate scores.

The Mounties, currently tied with Riverside City College for third place in conference (19-21), will look to take sole possession of the last qualifying spot for Southern California Regional.

Only the top three teams from the six-team OEC will advance to the So Cal Regionals in May.

Albert, with his one over par 73 on the day, started with a string of six straight pars before a bogey on the par-3 seventh hole.

He birdied the eighth and shot a par on the ninth for an even-par score of 36 at the turn.

He nearly duplicated the result of his first nine holes as he shot a par on the 10th through 15th holes. Albert, who has a 75.7 average on the season, shot a one-over bogy on the 16th, but settled down on the final two holes for a 37 on the back nine.

Albert, a sophomore, has come on strong in his last three OEC matches with the previous two scores of a one-under par 71 at Victoria Golf Course in Riverside and a two-over 74 at match No. 7 at the Costa Mesa Country Club.

Also shooting a fine round of golf was freshman James Johnson (75.7 avg.) with a three-over 75. Teammates Dylan Stone (80), David Gillette (81), Curtis Ashton (84) and Tyler Poepping (85) rounded out the scoring.

Johnson and Albert are currently in the twelfth and thirteenth positions respectively in conference. 

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.