Irvine Valley, Saddleback To Battle For Conference Title

By finishing 1-2 in the final regular-season conference match, both Irvine Valley and Saddleback have wrapped up the conference's two team spots in the post-season and will play in the Southern California Regional on November 7-8 at Los Serranos.

Irvine Valley posted a team score of 337 to win Wednesday's conference match at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club while host Saddleback finished second with a team score of 343.  Mt. San Antonio would have needed to win the match and have Irvine Valley or Saddleback finish last in order to still have a shot at the post-season, but the Mounties finished third at Arroyo Trabuco with a team score of 365.

Araceli Esquivel (pictured) earned medalist honors with a 2-over-par 74, despite taking a nine on one hole early in her round.  From there, she went on to post five birdies over the final 15 holes including back-to-back birdies on the holes 9 and 10 as well as holes 16 and 17.  IVC teammate Marisa Bhanubandh helped the Lasers' cause with an 80.  Saddleback's Mekenzie Purcell finished second overall with a 77 while Deanna Pagaduan finished fourth overall with an 84.  Gwen Bates of Fullerton, Calyn Hockerson of Orange Coast, and September Mirghanbari of Orange Coast each carded 87's.

All five teams will compete in the OEC championship, being played Monday at the Alta Vista course and on Wednesday at the Los Serranos Country Club.  Irvine Valley (20-4) has a 1-win lead over Saddleback (19-5) heading into the conference championship with the team title on the line.  

Esquivel has a three stroke lead over Purcell for the conference medalist honors while Bhanubandh is five strokes back.  The conference championship is 36 holes.