College of the Canyons captures 2017 CCCAA Men's Golf Championship for eighth title in school history
ARROYO GRANDE, Calif. - College of the Canyons captured the CCCAA men’s golf state championship with a one-day, 36-hole team total of 761 on the Cypress Ridge Golf Course in cool temperatures and a biting wind.
The Cougars were able to see all five scoring players post scores in the 70’s as they separated themselves from runner-up Cypress College (785) by 24 strokes after holding a slim, six-stroke lead following the morning round. Daniel Taplin’s morning round of 82 was thrown out of the scoring for the Cougars, but he battled back to lead the team with a 74 in the afternoon. Travis Fay and Michael Lingren added 76’s in the afternoon round. It was the eighth state title in men’s golf for College of the Canyons and the third title in five years (2015, 2013).
Cypress College was seeking its first state title but had to count four scores in the 80’s in the afternoon round. The Chargers’ Dylan Hall posted rounds of 73 and 74 for a 3-over-par total of 147 to earn individual medalist honors while Matt Rafter, Andrew Thomson, and Andreas Thaning each carded 81’s.
Ventura made a run in the afternoon round by posting a team score of 390 to be the only other team besides Canyons to break 400. The Pirates were in fifth place following the morning round but were helped by solid afternoon rounds from Joey Herrera (76), Brandon Resnick (77), and Kyle Dollison (78). Riverside, which captured the CCCAA South Regional a week earlier, fell to fourth place with an afternoon round of 404 for a team total of 794.
Only two sub-par rounds were posted on the day when temperatures hovered around 51 degrees and a steady ocean breeze made it feel even colder. Jae Kim of College of the Canyons shot a 2-under-par round of 70 in the morning but couldn’t maintain the pace and posted an 81 in the afternoon round. Chabot’s Anthony Gutierrez posted a 1-under-par 71 during the afternoon round after a 78 in the morning. Big 8 Conference MVP Mason Troike of Folsom Lake College posted an even-par round of 72 in the morning.
Hall earned all-state honors for being named medalist with his score of 147. Also earning all-state honors were Gutierrez (149), Herrera (149), Troike (150), Lingren (151), and Kim (151).