College of the Canyons blitzes field for second straight CCCAA Women's Golf State Championship
MORRO BAY – College of the Canyons captured the California Community College Athletic Association women’s golf state championship on Monday, running away from the competition for a 39 stroke victory.
This was the 25th year of community college women’s golf and the sixth consecutive year that the state championship has been contested on the Morro Bay course. Played under beautiful conditions with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s would be the magic ingredients for Canyons to take home its fourth women’s golf state title. Previous titles came in 2018, 2007, and 2001.
The Cougars posted a team score of 305 on Sunday and then added a team score of 304 on Monday for a two-day total of 609 to win their second consecutive title. It is the first time a college has won back-to-back state titles in the sport since Mt. San Antonio College captured titles in 2004 and 2005.
Canyons, which held a 15-stroke lead over Reedley College after the first round, added 24 strokes to that lead as Jessie Lin posted a 1-over-par 73 and teammates Haruka Koda and Paige Heuer added 74’s.
Reedley would settle for runner-up status with a two-day total of 648. Serena DiMauro would lead the Tigers with a 75 on Monday while Monica Yu added a 77.
The biggest battle would be for third place and the final event trophy. Modesto Junior College (657) would hold off Saddleback College (661), Sierra College (662), College of the Desert (663), and Santa Barbara City College (668) to take home the trophy.
The battle for individual medalist honors at this year’s championship turned into a battle between Cougar sophomore teammates Koda and Lin. Koda held a one stroke lead after the first day but Lin posted a 2-under-par score on the front nine Monday to take over the lead. Lin would give a stroke back to Koda on the back nine and would finish the day with a 73 while Koda posted a 74. They would finish the tournament with identical even-par 144’s and a card-off was needed to determine the individual medalist and state MVP. Counting the scores on the back nine, Koda would be awarded the medalist title.
Saddleback sophomore Katie Stribling had the best round on Monday, posting a 1-under-par 71 and finished third individually with a two-day total of 146. Santa Barbara’s Pratima Sherpa posted identical 74’s both days and finished fourth at 148. A card-off was needed again to break a three-way tie for fifth place as only the top six players earn all-state honors. Melanie Anderson of Sierra would be awarded fifth place and Paige Heuer of Canyons would receive sixth place while Monica Yu of Reedley would miss out on the medal stand despite all three players posting total scores of 7-over-par 151’s.
CCCAA WOMEN'S GOLF STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Morro Bay Golf Course (Morro Bay, Calif.)
5,378 yards (par 72)
Final
TEAM STANDINGS
1. College of the Canyons, 305-304-609
2. Reedley, 320-328-648
3. Modesto, 323-334-657
4. Saddleback, 331-330-661
5. Sierra, 330-332-662
6. College of the Desert, 338-325-663
7. Santa Barbara City, 326-342-668
8. San Joaquin Delta, 373-374-747
INDIVIDUALS (top 3)
1. Haruka Koda, Canyons, 70-74-144*
2. Jessie Lin, Canyons, 71-73-144
3. Katie Stribling, Saddleback, 75-71-146
* - won by card-off