Golf Team Cruises To Victory At SCIAC #5
The University of La Verne golf team posted a resounding win at the SCIAC #5 Tournament, earning a 13-stroke victory Sunday at Tukwet Canyon Golf Club in Beaumont.
La Verne finished with a team total of 294 and was the only squad in the competition to break 300 on the day. The Leopards had three of their players finish among the top six in the individual standings.
Redlands placed second with a total of 307 with Chapman finishing in third at 310. Occidental and Whittier tied for fourth place at 315 followed by Cal Lutheran and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps tying for sixth a stroke back at 316. Pomona-Pitzer (337) placed eighth.
Derek Zachman led La Verne with a round of 70 (-2) on the Par 72 course to place first in the individual standings en route to earning medalist honors. Ashraf Ahmad finished a stroke behind Zachman at 71 to finish second overall with Nick Ericson tying for sixth with a 75.
Other Leopard competitors included Michael Bonicatto, who shot 78 to tie for 14th, and Kelby Scharmann, who carded a 79 to finish tied for 20th.
"The team knew going into SCIAC #5 that it was the most important round of the year up to this point, and the players stepped up with a very impressive result," said Leopard head coach Eric Riehle. "One more focused week of practice, and we will give it our best at SCIAC Finals."
La Verne currently stands in second place in the league standings with 29 cumulative points through the five conference tournaments heading into the SCIAC 36-Hole Championship. Redlands (30) remains on top with a one-point lead over the Leopards. Cal Lutheran is third with 25 points while CMS and Whittier are tied for fourth with 19.
The SCIAC Championships will be held Sunday and Monday at Diamond Valley Golf Club in Hemet.