The Ventura College golf team matched its best finish ever, and freshman Joey Herrera tied for second place overall in the 36-hole CCCAA State Championships at the par-72 Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande Monday. The Pirates put together team scores of 399 and 390, for a total score of 789, behind state champions Canyons (761), who ran away with the title, and Cypress (785). Herrera put together rounds of 73 and 76 to post a 5-over 149 which tied him for second place.
In the morning round, VC posted a team score of 399, which had them in fifth place at the midway point of the championships. The Pirates improved on that score by nine strokes, carding a 390 in the afternoon to jump two teams to land in third place.
After Herrera, Denis Kakimoto shot 78, 79 - 157 to come in 16th overall of the 60 golfers on the course. Kyle Dollison recorded scores of 81, 78 - 159 and Brandon Resnick posted 87, 77 - 164. Ethan Winkler posted 85, 80 - 165 and Connor Philpott shot 82, 91 - 173.
Monday was the Pirates' 10th appearance in the state championships as a team and their first since 2009. The third place finish matches the 2009 team with the best overall placing in the championships.