Canyons Now Mindful of Goal in State JC Golf Tournament

Last season, they were pleased simply by the invitation. So much so, in fact, that they forgot their purpose.

Gary Peterson, golf coach at College of the Canyons, compared his team of a year ago to a baseball squad making its debut in the World Series. “It was our first time and we were just happy to be there,” Peterson said. “Now we’ve been there and we’re not going to be satisfied until we win it.”

Peterson was referring to the state junior college team championship. Canyons is one of eight teams that will be gunning for the title at the Del Rio Country Club in Modesto on Monday.

The Cougars finished in a second-place tie with Santa Barbara City in the Western State Conference this season and made the playoffs as a wild-card team. But they can no longer operate in the guise of an underdog.

Canyons blew its cover five days ago by winning the Southern California regionals at Singing Hills Country Club in El Cajon, Calif.

The 36-hole score for Canyons’ top five players was 729. Second-place Orange Coast finished a staggering 18 shots behind.

Saddleback placed third, four strokes behind Orange Coast, and Ventura, the WSC dual-match champion, was the fourth team to qualify from Southern California, carding a 754.

Defending state champion Canada College, located in Redwood City, won the Northern California regional with a score of 772 over a course that is considered more difficult than the one in El Cajon. Peterson is not convinced that the wide margin was caused completely by the course, however.

“Fifty shots is a lot,” he said. “I don’t care what course you’re playing.”

Bob Riggins, a sophomore from Saugus High, led Canyons in the regionals, winning the individual title with a 36-hole score of 141.

Riggins was one stroke better than Dave Berganio of Mission, who carded a 69 over the final 18 holes to finish at 142.

Berganio and teammate Jamey Forsyth, who shot 149, qualified as individuals.

Fresno City, San Jose City and Sierra of Rocklin are the other three teams to qualify from the Northern California regional.