Pirate Joey Herrera claimed medalist honors Monday at the Western State Championships with an even par 70-74, 144 at the par-72 Crystalaire Country Club in Llano. The VC sophomore finished the day two shots ahead of the second place competitors to win the tournament as he finished second for the season in conference competition. The Pirates came in third as a team in the 36-hole event, claiming a second place finish in the WSC's final standings.
Ventura was third in the morning competition with a team score of 397, behind Canyons (362) and Hancock (391) and ahead of Glendale (400) and Santa Barbara (401). Herrera posted the low score of the morning with a 2-under 70, followed by Denis Kakimoto with a 79. Other morning scores for the Pirates included Alex Millet (80), Adam Franc (84), Jonathon Ortiz (84) and Connor Philpott (88).
In the afternoon, VC repeated their finish but with a much closer margin in windy conditions. Canyons once again came in first with a 375, followed by Hancock (385) and the Pirates (389). Santa Barbara was fourth (392) and Glendale (398) was fifth. Herrera tied for third with a 2-over 74, followed by Kakimoto (76), Millet (78), Philpott (79), Franc (82) and Ortiz (86).
Overall, Canyons claimed the day with a combined score of 737, followed by Hancock at 776 and Ventura with 786.
On the day, Herrera carded a combined even par 144 for medalist honors, followed by Kakimoto's 155. Both players earned all-conference accolades for the second straight year.
Other Pirate scores for the two rounds included Millet at 158, Franc (166), Philpott (167), and Ortiz (170).
With their second place finish in the conference for the season, the Pirates automatically qualify as a team for the Southern California Regionals. The 36-hole event ill tee off at Bakersfield Country Club on Monday May 7.
WSC Finals
At par-72 Crystalaire CC
36-hole scores
Team -- 1. Canyons (362-375--737) 2. Hancock (391-385--776) 3. VENTURA (397-389--786) 4. Santa Barbara (401-392--793) 5. Glendale (400-398--798) 6. Bakersfield (404-405--809) 7. Antelope Valley (432-420--852) 8. Citrus (457-474--931) 9. Victor Valley, no score
Medalist -- 1. Joey Herrera, Ventura (70-74--144) 2.(tie) Jones Comerford, Canyons (72-74--146); Clemente Yanes, Canyons (72-74--146); AJ Roa, Glendale (73-73--146) 5. Elliot Bourke, Hancock (75-73--148) 6. Cory Hasse, Canyons (70-80--150)
Final WSC standings -- 1. Canyons (93-3) 2. VENTURA (73-23) 3. Santa Barbara (70-26) 4. Hancock (63-33) 5. Glendale (55-41) 6. Bakersfield (42-54) 7. Antelope Valley (23-73) 8. Citrus (12-84) 9. Victor Valley (2-94)
WSC No. 11
At par-72 Crystalaire CC
Final scores
Team -- 1. Canyons (362) 2. Hancock (391) 3. VENTURA (397) 4. Glendale (400) 5. Santa Barbara (401) 6. Bakersfield (404) 7. Antelope Valley (432) 8. Citrus (457) 9. Victor Valley, (no score)
Medalist -- 1.(tie) Joey Herrera, Ventura (70); Cory Hasse, Canyons, (70) 3.(tie) Jones Comerford, Canyons (72); Clay Kucera, Canyons (72); Clemente Yanes, Canyons (72).
WSC No. 12
At par-72 Crystalaire CC
Final scores
Team -- 1. Canyons (375) 2. Hancock (385) 3. VENTURA (389) 4. Santa Barbara (392) 5. Glendale (398) 6. Bakersfield (405) 7. Antelope Valley (420) 8. Citrus (474) 9. Victor Valley (no score).
Medalist -- 1.(tie) AJ Roa, Glendale (73); Elliot Bourke, Hancock (73). 3.(tie) Joey Herrera, Ventura (74); Austin Duffy, Santa Barbara, (74); Jones Comerford, Canyons, (74); Clemente Yanes, Canyons (74)