COD takes state title; Meredith wins individual title

The Orange Empire Conference was well-represented at the 2014 CCCAA women's golf state championship which was held in Morro Bay on November 16-17, taking home both the team and individual titles.

College of the Desert captured the team title with a two-day score of 644 to hold off a late charge by College of the Canyons (647) and Sierra College (650) while Modesto finished a distant fourth (678).  The Roadrunners held a 14 stroke lead after the first day of competition but gave back 12 strokes after the first two groups finished on the second day.  However, Desert would get one stroke back when the third and fourth groups finished to hold off Canyons.  It was the fifth golf title for Desert, but the first title since 1998.

The Orange Empire Conference had eight individuals qualify to play for medalist honors this year and Irvine Valley College sophomore Leleaga Meredith captured the individual title with a two-day total of 147.  Meredith fired a 75 on the first day to share the lead with three other golfers, then posted an even-par 72 on the second day to win the title outright.  That even-par round was the best round of the championship and led to a four-stroke win over sophomore April Chang of Sierra (77-74) who posted a 151.  Both players improved over their 2013 state championship performance where Meredith tied for second and Chang placed seventh.

Desert's Samantha Stewart (75-82) posted an individual score of 157 to place sixth overall and joined Meredith as All-State award winners given out to the lowest six finishers.

Also representing the OEC in individual play were Desert's Brooke Raney (160) and Fumika Matsumoto (162), Irvine Valley's Cindy Dang (162), Fullerton's Kacy Kaichi (164) and Tiffany Kohyama (165), and Saddleback's Rina Tomihari (176). 

State Championship results (Click Here)