Cypress Win Tightens OEC Race

Cypress College shot a team score of 1-over-par 361 on the tricky Tijeras Creek Golf Club course in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday to win the match and tighten up the Orange Empire Conference standings.

Matt Rafter carded a 3-under-par 69 to earn medalist honors while Charger teammate Dylan Hall was a shot back at 2-under 70 and Andrew Thomson posted a 1-under 71.  The Chargers easily distanced themselves away from runner-up Riverside (373) while Orange Coast placed third (376) and host Saddleback finished fourth at 390.

Riverside was paced by Everett Najera's even-par round of 72 while Brian Nielsen posted a 73 and Robby Melton added a 75.  Orange Coast saw both Tetsu Kase and Justin Collins (pictured) post 1-under-par 71's to pace the Pirates with Myles Valentine adding a 74 to the mix.  

James Hochsprung of Mt. San Antonio College also carded an even-par 72 for the Mounties (399).  Saddleback's Jackson Blogg (74) posted the lowest score for the Gauchos.

The sweep of the conference match gives Cypress 11 wins in conference, pulling the Chargers within one win of both Orange Coast and Riverside which each have 12 conference wins.  Saddleback is fourth with seven wins.

Individually, Hall has one even-par round and two rounds below par to lead all golfers with a 70.0 stroke average.  Kase of Orange Coast also has come in under par twice to post a 71.7 average.  Riverside's Najera has three even-par rounds to average 72.0 strokes per round and the big day by Cypress' Rafter puts him tied for fourth with Riverside's Melton at 73.3 strokes per round.

The teams will be back in action on Monday, March 27, at the Victoria Country Club in a match hosted by Riverside City College.