Bulldog Men’s Golf Takes Third at SCIAC Championship Tournament, Finishes Second in Standings
The No. 4 University of Redlands men's golf team competed at the 2012 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) 36-hole Championship Tournament on Sunday and Monday at Diamond Valley Golf Course in Hemet, mustering a third-place finish (594) among an extremely talented league of competitors. Taking on four teams among Golfstat.com's top 11 in NCAA Division III, the event promised to be exciting and tight through the final hole.
After an opening round of 294, the Bulldogs sat in second place behind reigning champion and ninth-ranked University of La Verne. However, the Maroon and Gray slipped into third place with a day-two effort of 300 when No. 11 Cal Lutheran University made an impressive push past the Bulldogs with a round of 291.
With 30 points acquired from the five SCIAC 18-hole tournaments of the season, Redlands held on for second place in the overall conference standings, finishing behind La Verne, which won its sixth consecutive title. Cal Lutheran takes third and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps comes in fourth place.
Bulldog freshman Bobby Holden (Simi Valley, CA) uncorked a field-best round of 67 on Sunday, leading to a third-place total of 143 for one-under par. His round of 67 places him in a tie for fourth all-time at Redlands for single-round performances. During the SCIAC Championships, he notched seven birdies and hit 20 pars while averaging 4.5 on the par fives.
Sophomore Jeremy Sanders (Chatsworth, CA) provided a consistent effort for the Maroon and Gray, coming in fifth overall with a two-round tally of 145 (73-72). He led all competitors with 10 birdies and posted the best mark among the field on par fives at 4.25.
With 21 pars and four birdies, second-year swinger Jeremy Gomberg (Los Altos, CA) entered the clubhouse with rounds of 78 and 74 to tie for 19th overall. He also shot one-under on the par fives, helping the Bulldogs to lead all teams in this category at 4.77.
Sophomore Mike Caston Jr. (Escondido, CA) and rookie Perry Johnson (Lake Forest, IL) finished one stroke off of each other at 158 and 159, respectively. Senior Scott Peña (San Diego, CA) rounded out the Bulldog competitors by signing his scorecard at 170.
Redlands must now await the upcoming NCAA's announcement about a possible at-large bid to the national championship tournament, which takes place May 15-18 in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL.
