Pirate sophomores Joey Herrera and Denis Kakimoto each qualified as indiiduals for the CCCAA State Golf Championships in regional play Monday at Bakersfield Country Club. Herrera carded a 72-76, 148 and Kakimoto tied his teammate at 73-75, 148 as they tied for fifth place overall. Both earned All-Southern California Region honors. The Pirate team narrowly missed a repeat trip to the state championships with a score of 391-390, 781 to place fifth in the nine-team event, seven strokes behind fourth-place Orange Coast. The top four teams also qualified for state.
Herrera had a great morning round, shooting an even-par 72 to hold a tie for the lead at the halfway point. Kakimoto came in close behind wit a 1-over 73. The team was fifth after the morning round with a 391, 12 strokes behind third place Riverside and nine strokes behind fourth-place Orange Coast.
In the afternoon, Kakimoto had a 75 and Herrera recorded a 76 as the teammates tied for fifth place overall. The VC team improved by one stroke fromthe morning, carding a 390. Unfortunately OCC posted a 379 to jump into third place while RCC's 395 was still good enough to hold off the Pirates fo rthe final state team berth.
Other Ventura golfers and their results include: Alex Millet, 81-79, 160; Jonathon Ortiz, 83-79, 162; Connor Philpott, 83-81, 164; and Adam Franc, 82-88, 170.
Herrera and Kakimoto will participate in the CCCAA State Championhips on Monday May 14 at Sandpiper Golf Club in Goleta.
Southern Cal Regional
At par-72 Bakersfield CC
36-hole scores
Team (top 4 advance to State) --1. Canyons (374-373--747) 2. Cypress (378-380--758) 3. Orange Coast (382-379--761) 4. Riverside (379-395--774) 5. VENTURA (391-390--781) 6. Palomar (403-382--785) 7. Desert (392-404--796) 8. Santa Barbara (401-400--801) 9. Hancock (404-406--810)
Medalist -- 1, Jones Comerford, Canyons (74-69--143) 2. (tie) Myong Kim, Orange Coast (76-69--145); Matt Rafter, Cypress (72-73--145) 4. Kieran Bludell, Mt. San Jacinto (72-75--147) 5. (tie) Joey Herrera, Ventura (72-76--148); Denis Kakimoto, Ventura (73-75--148)
