Amirkhizi excels for Vaqs in conference match

GLENDALE — If there’s been one certain for the Glendale Community College men’s golf team throughout the first half of the season, it’s been the play of Brennan Amirkhizi.

Amirkhizi has consistently kept his scores low with the goal of contending for the Western State Conference’s individual championship. He provided another reminder that he’s serious about winning the title.

Despite windy conditions and cool temperatures, Amirkhizi fired a two-over-par 74 to place third on Monday in a seven-team Western State Conference match at Santa Maria Country Club. Amirkhizi, the lone sophomore on the team, jumped to third overall in conference scoring average.

Glendale finished fifth with a 393.

“Brennan is just always solid and he never blows up,” Glendale college Coach Greg Osbourne said. “If he does hit a bad shot, then he knows how to recover.”

Now, Osbourne said he’s trying to get the rest of the Vaqueros to follow Amirkhizi’s lead.

The Vaqueros received a 79 from Danny Fernandez and 80s from Michael Timpson, Jin Park and Chris Ramirez.

“We needed some lower scores to have a chance at winning [Monday],” Osbourne said. “We need to get better as a team.

“Guys fall apart during certain holes and that keeps them eight over. We had an opportunity and we didn’t seize it. We are not making enough birdies and we are making too many bogeys. Every shot counts.

“We didn’t have a practice round. Without a practice round it’s tough because each guy on our team probably would have shot three to four stokes less.”

College of the Canyons won with a 380, followed by Allan Hancock (382). Bakersfield placed third with a 383, followed by Ventura (389). Citrus was sixth (416) and Santa Barbara took seventh (417).

The Vaqueros’ next conference match will be March 28.