Cougars Crowned State Champions

CARMEL, Calif. - The College of the Canyons men's golf team sat five strokes out of the lead after the first 18 holes of the California Community College Athletic Associations Men's Golf State Championship on Monday afternoon, but surged back in the second round to win the state tournament by three strokes, claiming its sixth state championship in the program's 41st year. The Cougars turned in a second round of 367, to complete the par-71, 6,357-yard Rancho Canada course with a 13-over-par 723 (356-367).

After finishing 18 holes in third place behind first-place Santa Rosa (351) and second-place Orange Coast (354), the No. 1-ranked COC team propelled into first place after turning in the lowest score of the second round, a 367. Orange Coast, the team who beat COC in the Southern California Championship, came in second with a 726 (354-372) and Santa Rosa fell to third place with a 734 (351-383). Chabot College came in fourth place after carding a 738 (359-379).

The state championship victory is COC's sixth title, all under head coach Gary Peterson. Canyons last won the state's top honor in 2008.

Jacob Ruffino (67-70--137) of Reedley finished with the individual medal after leading the tournament wire-to-wire and Orange Coast's David Pelekoudas (69-69--138) claimed second, one stoke behind the leading Reedley player.

COC's Sidney Wolf carded a tournament total 139 (69-70), to finish as the Cougars' top individual, trailing the lead by two strokes to end his day in third place. Jake Katz shot a 69 in the final round, besting his first 18-hole score by two strokes and bringing his tournament total to 140 (71-69). Luke Kristo tied his first round score of 73 for a 146 (73-73) total and came in 16th overall. Eric Kim came in 22nd with a 36-hole total of 148 (70-78), while Riley Hayfield came in 32nd with a 151 (73-78). Travis Bergman rounded out the Cougar scoring with a 153 (76-77).

Wolf and Katz were named All-State for their performances at the tournament.