(Temecula, CA) With the late-season success of the Mt. SAC Men's Golf Team, the Mounties qualified for the upcoming CCCAA Southern California Regionals, to be held Monday (May 9), at Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura.

"We look forward to competing in the Regionals and because of our recent success, we are confident that we can compete with any team," Mt. SAC Men's Golf Coach Greg Osbourne said.

Coming into the final Orange Empire Conference (OEC) finals, Mt. SAC had to finish above Orange Coast College and Cuyamaca to qualify for the regionals.

At the OEC finals, the Mounties finished tied with College of the Desert for third place in the 10-team conference.

OCC finished sixth and Cuyamaca was seventh.

The top six teams and top individual not from a qualifying team advance on to the regional championships.

Riverside City College won the OEC Inland Division, with Cypress capturing the Coastal Division.

Leading the way for the Mounties, with his best rounds all season was freshman Ethan Thomas who shot an 8-under par 136 (69-67).

"I am so proud of Ethan," Osbourne said. "He works very hard.  As his confidence is growing, his talent is really showing."

Following Thomas were Trevor Ruiz, 144 (75-69), Aaron Fekin, 149 (75-74), Felix Tsui, 151 (75-76), Brandon Winters, 153 (81-72), and Mark McCabe, 162 (82-80).

Saddleback blitzed the field with a 19-point winning margin for the championship. The Gauchos had a team score of 711 (-9), with Cypress finishing in second with a 730 (+10).

The Mounties finished with a 733 (+13) which was their best round of the season.

The late-season success saw Mt. SAC finishing second in the final three OEC Inland Division matches.

Five big reasons for the Mounties' success were the second-round scores by the players.

The Mounties broke Par in that second round with a 358, which was the best of all 10 teams.

All-OEC selection Thomas had a 5-under Par 67, followed by a 3-under Par 69 by Ruiz. That was followed by an even-par 72 from Winters, Fekin (74), and Tsui (76).

"(Thomas) ended up doing spectacular at the end in the last 18 holes," Osburne said. "That was the first time all year that he broke 70. He scores vaulted him up in the standings.

"All he has to do is keep doing what he has been doing."

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