Orange Coast captures top spot at SoCal Regionals
3C2A Women's Golf Regional Results
VENTURA - The Orange Coast College women's golf team earned a place in school history on Monday, winning the Southern California Regional Finals for the first time after a solid two-day performance at Olivas Links this past weekend.
OCC, champions of the Orange Empire Conference, posted low team scores for both sessions and earned a nine-shot win over runner-up, Mt. San Antonio College with a 36-hole team score of 638. The Mounties (647) were followed by College of the Canyons (676), Santa Barbara City College, Allan Hancock (723), Moorpark (735), Bakersfield (757) and Citrus (994).
On Sunday's opening round, Sophie Thibodeau shot the low round of the day for the Pirates, carding a 4-over-par, 76, closing out her round 1-under par over her final six holes. Michelle Khin was close behind with an 81, while Sofia Ingle (82) and Nalani Sam (84) each earned scoring rounds for the Pirates, followed by Lilly Thurston (88) and Audrey Crinella (90).
The team score of 323 put OCC four shots clear of Mt. SAC and 17 shots ahead of Canyons after Day 1.
Coast managed to better its team score on Day 2 with a 315, five better than Mt. SAC's 320 and 21 clear of Canyons (336).
Khin was the low shooter on Monday, carding a 3-over-par, 75. After a 2-over start through the first four holes, Khin settled down and went 2-under par over the next seven holes to earn her impressive score.
Thibodeau, this year's OEC individual champion, was just one shot off her leading play on Sunday and carded a 5-over, 77. Ingle was close behind with an 81, while Crinella bettered her Day 1 result by eight strokes and carded an 82, with Thurston (82) and Sam (83) also shooting impressive rounds for the deep and talented Pirates.
Coast will now head up the 101 Freeway to Solvang for the 3C2A Women's Golf State Championships, which will take place at Alisal Ranch (River Course) on Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. The Pirates are gunning for their first women's golf state championship in school history.
(Tony Altobelli, Orange Coast College Athletics)