Canyons Takes First Place at Pt. Conception Open

The College of the Canyons men's golf team continues to compete at a high level as evidenced with its victory at the two-day Pt. Conception Open held March 1-2 in Lompoc, CA.

The non-conference event attracted a field of 72 golfers from 11 schools, with COC sending two six-man teams to the tournament.

Canyons posted a two-day total of 754 (381/373) to top a second place Santa Barbara City College squad for the fourth time this season. SBCC carded a 763 (387/376) to once again finish single-digit strokes behind COC.

Reedley College's score of 769 (379/390) was good enough for third place honors, while Riverside finished fourth at 776 (387/389). In fifth was College of the Desert at 786 (397/389).

COC's second team of participants finished in seventh place with a score of 789 (396/393).

The first day of action saw golfers teeing off at Marshallia Ranch Golf Course. COC got off to a strong start on Sunday, but still trailed Reedley College by two strokes after the first 18 holes.

COC sophomore Braden Lewis turned in a score of 73 on Sunday and was followed by teammate Noah Bernstein's mark of 76. Canyons golfers Clayton Chatterley, Eric Kim and Matt Murray, who played on COC team two, each finished at 77 on the day. 

On Monday the action shifted to La Purisima Golf Course, where the Cougars seemed to fare a bit bitter, with 10 of the team's 12 members improving their score on day two.

Lewis led the way again with a 70, while Edouard Fiszel cut five strokes off his day one total to finish Monday at 73. Chatterley and Kim tied once again, this time at 76.

The COC turnaround allowed the team to catch, and pass the squad from Reedley, while creating more separation from the rest of the field.

Canyons remains undefeated on the season, having taken first place in every tournament it has participated in.

The Cougars will next see action in Western State Conference tournament No. 4 hosted by Ventura College at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard on Monday, March 9.