Santiago Canyon Takes Over Top Spot in OEC Standings

Santiago Canyon took over the top spot in the Orange Empire Conference men's golf standings with one conference match remaining before the 36-hole conference championship which will be held on Monday, April 28, at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills.

Santiago Canyon captured Monday's conference match hosted by Riverside at the Victoria Country Club.  Victoria will serve as the site of the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association men's golf state championship on May 12.

Nico Mendoza led the Hawks with a 2-under-par 70 as Santiago Canyon posted a five-man team score of 373 to edge host Riverside by one stroke. Riverside's Eric Cross and Clay Hjulberg posted even-par 72s on the day as did Orange Coast's Marc Reyes.

Orange Coast slipped from the top spot in the standings as the Pirates posted a team score of 384 to place third at Victoria.  Saddleback (393), Cypress (401) and Irvine Valley (402) completed the scoring.

Riverside hosted the season-opening tournament at Victoria Country Club on January 27 and the Tigers were on fire as they carded a team score of 361 to edge out Santiago Canyon's 368 and Orange Coast's 379. Three months later and the conference title is still up for grabs. Irvine Valley will host the last conference match on April 16 at Green River golf course before the teams focus on the conference championship on April 28.