Cougars Finish Runner-Up at CCCAA State Championships

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

GOLETA, Calif. — College of the Canyons had two players finish in the top-10 as the Cougars finished runner-up to Cypress College at the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships at Sandpiper Golf Club on Monday.

Canyons carded a five-man score of 373 in the afternoon round to top the eight-team field, but it wasn't enough to catch Cypress, which had opened up a commanding 16-stroke lead after the first 18 holes.

The Chargers (736-70/73) were trailed by runner up COC (754-381/373), third place Orange Coast College (760-378/382) and Reedley College (760-380/380) which had to settle for fourth after a card off.

The field also included Chabot College (767-380/387), Monterey Peninsula (782–397/385), Riverside City College (785-394/391) and Sierra College (811-406/405).

Clayton Kucera (147-74/73) was the low man for Canyons. He finished sixth in the field of 60 individuals to earn All-State Team honors. The freshman's one-over round of 73 to finish the event was fourth best.

Jones Comerford (149-75/74) capped his fantastic freshman campaign with a 10th place finish at the state tourney, a week after winning an individual SoCal Regional Championship. Comerford was also named the Western State Conference (WSC) Player of the Year.

Corey Haase (152 -77/75) finished 20th overall and Jack Roycroft was 23rd (153-77/76).

Michael Lindgren (156-81/75) had his morning round dropped from the scoring, but then bounced back to shave six strokes off his score on the back 18 to represent the greatest round-to-round improvement for Canyons.

Justin Buenaventura (158-78/80) factored into the morning score but had his afternoon round scratched.

Reedley's Adam Nelson won the individual state championship with a three-under total of 141 (69/72). Cypress has three players finish in the top-five in Matt Rafter (143-70/73), George Bris (144-69/75) and Andrew Thomson (146-74/72). Denis Kakimoto (147-72/75) was fifth overall.

Canyons, which was competing in its 23rd state championship event, has now finished either first or second at the state finals every year since 2012, having won titles in 2017, 2015 and 2013.

COC entered this year's state tournament as the CCCAA Southern California Regional Champions looking to win back-to-back titles for the first time in program history. The Cougars also won a ninth straight Western State Conference (WSC) title this season.

FINAL SCORES

1. Cypress (736-70/73) 2. Canyons (754-381/373)  3. Orange Coast (760-378/382) 4. Reedley (760-380/380)  5. Chabot College (767-380/387) 6. Monterey Peninsula (782–397/385) 7. Riverside (785-394/391) 8. Sierra College (811-406/405)

CANYONS INDIVIDUAL SCORES

Clayton Kucera (147-74/73); Jones Comerford (149-75/74); Corey Haase (152 -77/75); Jack Roycroft (153-77/76); Michael Lindgren (156-81/75); Justin Buenaventura (158-78/80)

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

—Photo courtesy of by Mike Baker/CCCAA