Vaqs place second again
Heading down the homestretch in the Western State Conference, the members of the Glendale Community College men’s golf team continues to lower its scores. The Vaqueros are also inching closer to returning to the Southern California Regionals for a second season in a row.
Glendale improved its chances for another postseason appearance while turning in some impressive scores bouts of rain Wednesday afternoon during a Western State Conference match at San Dimas Golf Course.
Mathias Dahl shot a four-under-par 68, which included an eagle, to help Glendale finish second with a 364. College of the Canyons won the event with a 345.
Dahl, a native of Sweden, finished with 11 pars, four birdies and recorded an eagle on the par-five ninth hole just before the rain stopped.
“It rained for a couple of holes, but I didn’t let it affect me,” said Dahl, a freshman. “I just had to go out there and block out any distractions, like the rain, and I got that eagle.”
Santa Barbara finished third with a 371, followed by Allan Hancock (373). Bakersfield and Ventura each shot 383s, but Bakersfield took the tie-breaker by virtue of its sixth player posting a lower score. Citrus was seventh at 401.
The Vaqueros remain in second place behind Canyons with two regular season matches and a 36-hole conference final still left. The top two teams from the conference automatically qualify for the Southern California Regionals. The Vaqueros hold a three-win lead over third-place Santa Barbara.
Glendale also received a 71 from Richie Maloof, a 73 from Michael Timpson, a 74 from Clayton Ojeda and a 78 from Nick Quintanilla.
Those scores satisfied Glendale Coach Greg Osbourne, whose team advanced to the state tournament last season for the first time in the program’s history.
“There was pressure and we knew we had to be able to go out there and play well,” Osbourne said. “We did what we needed to do.
“I really can’t be any happier with the way we played. Everybody broke 80. Now, we have to keep it together so we can make it to regionals. We have to keep practicing.”
Tyler Schwanz of Canyons carded a 67 to earn medalist honors.
The Vaqueros will host the next conference match, which will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Oakmont Country Club.
“It will be fun to finally be able to play on our home course,” Dahl said. “I think we will have a big advantage.”
