(Tustin, CA) After two of six Orange Empire Conference matches, the Mt. SAC Men's Golf Team remains in the hunt for the top spot, with a second-place finish at Tustin Ranch Golf Course Monday (3/11).
Coming into the match, Mt. SAC was tied with defending CCCAA State Champion Cypress with 12-4 records in conference. Cypress now holds down first in the OEC with a 17-3 record, followed by Mt. SAC (16-4) in second.
Cypress was one better than the Mounties as they finished on top with a 5-0 record. The Chargers (375) were six strokes better than Mt. SAC's 381. One big reason was a season-best 69 shot by Cypress' David Marriss. He was tops in the 36-player field on the Par-72, 6,842-yard course.
Placing third was Orange Coast College with a 383.
The Mounties were led by a pair of 74's by Hanseop Lee (37-37) and Blake Copeland (37-37), followed by a 76 from Chu-Wen (Felix) Tsui (38-38).
Lee began his round with a two-over par 14 by the third hole, after carding two bogies and a par. He birdied the fourth and fifth holes and finished with a one-over 37 on the front nine. Highlighting the back nine, Lee carded three birdies and three pars to finish with another one-over par 37.
"The team has yet to put it together and score at the same time," Mt. SAC Men's Golf coach Greg Osbourne said. "They gave a great effort on a golf course where we could not get a practice round.
"They are a super group of players who support each other. I am very proud of them."
Copeland, who is averaging 74.5, was "Mr. Consistent" on his opening round with just one bogey and eight pars for a 37. On the back nine, Copeland had three birdies, two pars and four bogies for another 37.
Tsui was also very consistent in his game Monday as he had seven pars and two bogies on the front nine for a 38. On the back, Copeland had six pars, one bird, a bogey and a double bogey for a 38.
Rounding out the Mt. SAC scores was Cameron Smith (78), Joshua Song (79) and Julio Ibarra (81).
The Mounties take a two week break and will compete in the OEC Match No. 3 Monday (3/25) at Victoria GC in Riverside, hosted by Riverside City College.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.