Joey Herrera turned in an exceptional round of 3-under par 69 to tie for medalist honors at the Western State Conference event at Antelope Valley Country Club in Lancaster Monday, leading the Pirates to a third place finish in the conference competition. Ventura posted a team score of 381, their second-best team score of the year, to finish behind Santa Barbara (369) and Canyons (376).
Connor Philpott turned in a 1-over 73 for the Pirates' second score. Other Ventura golfers included: Denis Kakimoto (76), Aaron Friedland (80), Jonathon Ortiz (83) and Adam Franc (84).
Monday's low number for Herrera is his second below-par score in this last three rounds. He remains the top-ranked golfer in the conference midway through the season.
Ventura travels to Oakmont Country Club on Monday March 19 for the WSC event hosted by Glendale College.
WSC No. 6
At par-72 Antelope Valley CC
Final scores
Team -- 1. Santa Barbara (369) 2. Canyons (376) 3. VENTURA (381) 4. Allan Hancock (383) 5. Bakersfield (389) 6. Glendale (403) 7. Antelope Valley (458) 8. Victor Valley (473) Citrus (475)
Medalist -- 1. (tie) Joey Herrera, Ventura (69); Zack Steinberger, Santa Barbara (69); James Comerford, Canyons (69) 4. Derrick Nieman, Hancock (71) 5. (tie) Connor Philpott, Ventura (73); Jack Heavey, Santa Barbara (73); Kaidin Oliver, Victor Valley (73)
WSC standings -- 1. Canyons (45-3) 2. Santa Barbara (40-8) 3. VENTURA (38-10) 4. Hancock (27-21) 5. Glendale (26-22) 6. Bakersfield (22-26) 7. Antelope Valley (11-37) 8. Citrus (6-42) 9. Victor Valley (1-47)