Hogan fires 2nd straight 69 to win Pt. Conception Open; Vaqueros are 2nd
The course was different on Monday but the results were the same for SBCC's Jonny Hogan.
The sophomore from Santa Ynez High fired his second straight 3-under 69 -- this time at La Purisima GC near Lompoc -- to win the Pt. Conception Open men's golf tourney by five shots over Braden Lewis of Canyons (73-70). It was the third straight medalist honor for Hogan and his fourth of the season.
He's shot par or better in all six rounds and is averaging 70.3 strokes. Three of his last four rounds have been 69s, including Sunday's opening round at the tricky Marshallia Ranch layout.
"His biggest strengths are his coordination and strength," said coach Chuck Melendez, who's in his 15th season as the Vaquero coach. "He's not a power-game guy but he still hits it out there with everybody else. He has a great deal of touch and finesse. He also has a great passion to get to the highest level."
Canyons Blue shot 373 on Monday and 754 for the 36-hole tourney to beat WSC rival SBCC (387-376--763) by nine shots. Monterey Peninsula, buoyed by Monday's low round of 371, took third at 768 and Reedley, the first-round leader, was a shot back at 769 in the 14-team field.
Manny Manzone shot 2-over 74 on Monday and was second for the Vaqueros at 154. Brett Patton turned in two 78s for a 156. Jake Ledbetter, playing as an individual for the Vaqueros, had two solid rounds of 76 and 73.
"There was rain and wind at the start but then it was beautiful by the end of the day," said Melendez, whose team went 12-1 in the tourney to improve to 43-6 on the year. "We played better today, we just need to be more consistent and be ready when it counts.
"I've never had a player shoot six straight rounds of par or better," he said, when asked about Hogan's impressive feat. "He's the most consistent player I've seen. He's outworking everybody and has a clear vision of where he wants to be."
The Vaqueros will bid for their first WSC tourney title on Monday in WSC No. 4 at River Ridge GC in Oxnard.
Point Conception Open:
1st round at par-72 Marshallia Ranch
2nd round at par-72 La Purisima GC
SBCC records: Tournament 12-1; Season 43-6.
http://www.sbccvaqueros.com/sports/mgolf/2014-15/releases/20150302ecbfmp