For the first time in eight years, the Pirate golf team is headed to state. Led by Joey Herrera's 6-over 36-hole score of 148, the Pirates carded a team score of 774 at the El Camino Country Club in Oceanside to place fourth in the Southern California Regional Championships to punch the team ticket to the final event of the season.
Herrera shot 75, 73-148 in the two rounds, tying for second place overall, four shots off the pace, earning All-SoCal honors. Connor Philpott shot 75, 78-153 and Brandon Resnick followed with an 81, 73-154. Kyle Dollison posted a score of 76, 79-155 and Denis Kakimoto shot a consistent 82, 82-164. Jonathon Ortiz came in with a 90, 92-182 to round out the Pirate scoring.
Riverside City College won the event with a team score of 750, followed by Cypress at 758. Western State Conference champion Canyons shot a combined 765 and the Pirates followed at 774 to nab the final automatic qualifying spot by two strokes over charging Orange Coast with 776.
VC will tee off at the CCCAA State Championships on Monday May 15 at 7:00 am at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande, the site of last week's WSC Champiponships. It will be Ventura's first team appearance in the final since 2009.
Southern California Championships (36 holes)
At par-72 El Camino CC
Oceanside
9 teams (top 4 advance to State Finals) -- 1, Riverside 380-370--750. 2, Cypress 380-378--758. 3, Canyons 392-373--765. 4, VC 389-385--774. 5, Orange Coast 393-383--776. 6, Desert 396-389--785. 7, Mt. San Jacinto 412-376--788. 8, Santa Barbara 392-397--789. 9, Citrus 401-398--799.
Medalist (Par 72, 66 players) -- 1, Everett Najera, Riverside, 72-72--144. 2 (tie), Joey Herrera, Ventura, 75-73--148; Dylan Hall, Cypress, 77-71--148; Josh McCollum, Orange Coast, 75-73--148.