Reedley Captures First State Title in Men's Golf

State Championship Results

Reedley College captured its first state championship in men's golf by building a nine stroke lead in the morning round and holding off College of the Canyons in the afternoon to win the title by six strokes at the CCCAA men's golf state championship played at the Desert Island Golf and Country Club in Rancho Mirage.

The Tigers, coached by Scott Stark, were the leaders in the clubhouse with a team score of 364 in the morning but slipped to third place in the afternoon with a team score of 381.  Still, the 36-hole team score of 745 edged out Canyons (751) and College of the Desert (754) in the race for the title.

Ryder Rochin paced the Tigers with rounds of 74 and 73 while Ben Hallam added rounds of 73 and 75.  Jeffrey Yamaguchi sparked the team's early lead with a 1-under-par 71 in the morning round.

College of the Canyons, which had won two of the past three state titles, roared back in the afternoon round with a team score of 373 as Ben Campbell shot identical 71's in each round to earn individual medalist honors with a 2-under-par total of 142.  Will Barnett added twin 73's for the Cougars.

One of the highlights of the tournament was Nick Fowler of Folsom Lake College who aced the 164-yard No. 8 hole for the only hole-in-one on the day. Fowler would end up shooting a 77 during that round.

Reedley College, fresh off of a convincing 15-stroke victory in the CCCAA North Regional championship, enjoyed a nine stroke lead over the host team, College of the Desert, following the morning round.  Desert would match Reedley's 381 and was unable to make up any ground in the afternoon.  

Orange Coast (765) would finish fourth in the team scoring, followed by Santiago Canyon (773), Santa Rosa (774), Monterey Peninsula (788) and Folsom Lake (789).

Daniel Robertson (Chabot) posted a 3-under-par 69 to lead all golfers during the morning round while Toby Lane (West Hills-Lemoore) and Kenzo Vlassaks (Desert) each posted 70's.  Ben Campbell (Canyons), Mike Schaloum (Desert), and Austin Briggs (Orange Coast) joined Yamaguchi at 1-under-par 71's.  

Campbell was the only golfer to come in under par in the afternoon round.  His 142 total was followed by Barnett (146) as the individual runner-up while Rochin (147) placed third.  Sean Talmadge of Chabot placed fourth, edging out Reedley's Hallam on a card-off despite both having a 148 total score.  Niels Andersen of Santa Barbara City College (149) edged out Austin Trcka of Santiago Canyon College in a card-off for the sixth spot on the all-state team.