Oak Creek is Old Hat for Tigers

Riverside sophomore Wes Hatton played the Oak Creek course like it was his home course, posting an even-par 71 to win medalist honors and help his Tigers win the conference match with a team score of 376 to take over first place in the conference standings.

The Tigers received matching 73's from Chad Hambright and Cody Medlin as the defending state champions held off Orange Coast (380), Santiago Canyon (385), and Cypress (385).

Riverside was tied with Santiago Canyon heading into the final match before the 36-hole conference championship scheduled for April 27 at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills.  The Tigers picked up five wins to take over the top spot in the conference standings while Orange Coast's second-place finish put Santiago Canyon two victories behind Riverside.  It could have been even worse as the Hawks tied with Cypress but were able to get the third-place points by virtue of a lower score with the sixth man, 83-88.

Orange Coast's run at a team victory finished just four strokes short of Riverside.  The Pirates, which had won the February 18 event at Soboba Springs and place third in five events this season, had all five players score in the 70's.  Connor Hurst led the Pirates with a 74 while Miles Young and Nick Zapotoczny each carded 75's and Bryson Bentley and Myles Valentine finished with 78's.

Cypress' Connor Whitcomb carded a 72 to earn individual runner-up honors while James Kim posted a 74 and Luca Yi added a 76 for the Chargers.   Irvine Valley's Nate Noblitt posted a 73 for the Lasers while Tanner Dice and Ryan Mendoza of Santiago Canyon ended with 75's along with Saddleback's Roberto Lievana.

All six teams will play in the 36-hole conference finals at Los Serranos, playing one round on the par-74 south course and one round on the par-72 north course.   The top three teams and the top two players not on those teams will advance to the Southern California regional finals which are scheduled for Monday, May 4, at the Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura.