Mt. SAC Men’s Golf Place Third at Riverside Invitational; Kotaro Cards a 72

Mt. SAC Men’s Golf Place Third at Riverside Invitational; Kotaro Cards a 72

(Riverside, CA) Mt. SAC sophomore Kotaro Noda shot a season-low 72 to lead the Mounties at the Riverside City College Invitational at Victoria Golf Course Monday (Feb. 24).

Noda, who is from Sapporo, Japan, lowered his best effort this season by four strokes, finishing seventh out of a field of 96, and all six Mountie golfers shot in the seventies for the second tournament in a row.

As a team, Mt. SAC finished in a tie for third out of 17 teams with a 376.

College of the Canyons, which is the defending CCCAA State Champions, won the tourney with a team total of 363, followed by a 369 by Reedley College. The Mounties, playing in their fifth tourney of the season, finished tied with Cypress and Irvine Valley.

"We still haven't come close to our playing potential," Mt. SAC Men's Golf coach Greg Osbourne said. "As a team, the players are a very tight unit. Kotaro played well and led us (Monday).

"When our men put it together on the same day, it will be special. I am very proud of our attitude and the effort they all give."

Following Noda with a 74 was sophomore James Johnson, Ben Sanders (75), Blake Copeland (76) and Tommy Chung and Chu-Wen (Felix) Tsui with 79's.

Mt. SAC begins Orange Empire Conference play in the revamped Inland Division Monday (Mar. 9) for Match No. 1 at Spring Valley Lake Golf Course, hosted by Victor Valley College.