Story and photos by Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information

MORRO BAY – College of the Canyons worked for a third-place finish at the prestigious North-South Invitational at Morro Bay Golf Course on Oct. 9-10.

The two-day, 36-hole tournament consisted of 11 different programs from across the state.

COC's four-player score of 331 on day one put the Cougars in the lead after the first 18 holes.

Canyons was followed by Saddleback College (334) and Modesto (337). Modesto previously bested Saddleback last year in the 2021 CCCAA State Championships to take the state title. 

The rivalry continued into the second day, with Saddleback improving by 20 strokes on the day, resulting in a first-place finish and a score of 648 total (334/314). Modesto shot a 317 in its second round, taking second with a total of 654 and the Cougars finished just one stroke behind coming in at 655 (331/324). 

Though Canyons took third in the team standings, COC freshman Motoko Shimoji earned medalist honors for the fourth time this season, posting a two-day score of 147 (75/72). Shimoji finished five strokes ahead of the runner-up after carding her best score of the season during Monday's second round.

COC's Carla Menendez tied for sixth in a field of 58 golfers with a combined score of 160 (81/79). Fellow Cougar Flora Peugnet rounded out in 12th with a total of 165 (83/82) and Brooke Maxwell put together a score of 185 (92/93) for a tied 35th place finish. 

Scores from COC players Emma Tyni (194-103/91) and Ashley Cortez (220-107/113) were dropped from the Cougars' final score.  

Morro Bay is set to host the 2022 CCCAA Women's Golf State Championships on Nov. 13 and 14. With their eyes already set on those dates, the Cougars will next tee off next at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 17 at Santa Maria Country Club, in the Western State Conference (WSC) event hosted by Allan Hancock College. 

North-South Invitational – Oct. 9, 2022 – FIRST ROUND SCORES

TEAM SCORES – 1. Canyons (331) 2. Saddleback (334) T3. Napa Valley (337) T3. Modesto (337) 5. Reedley (348) 6. Sierra (356) 7. Fullerton (360) 8. Desert (364) 9. Delta (381) 10. Mt. SAC (398) 11. Citrus (426)

CANYONS INDIVIDUAL SCORES – Motoko Shimoji (75-medalist); Carla Menendez (81); Flora Peugnet (83); Brooke Maxwell (92); Emma Tyni (103); Ashley Cortez (107).

North-South Invitational – Oct. 10, 2022 – FINAL SCORES

TEAM SCORES – 1. Saddleback (648-334/314) 2. Modesto (654-337/317) 3. Canyons (655-331/324) 4. Reedley (675-348/327) 5. Napa Valley (679-337/342) 6. Sierra (698-356/342) 7. Fullerton (703-360/343) 8. Desert (734-364/370) 9. Delta (743-381/362) 10. Mt. SAC (766-398/368) 11. Citrus (731-426/DNF305) 

CANYONS INDIVIDUAL SCORES – Motoko Shimoji (147-75/72-medalist); Carla Menendez (160-81/79); Flora Peugnet (165-83/82); Brooke Maxwell (185-92/93); Ashley Cortez (220-107/113).

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.