The Cypress Chargers climbed into a tie with Riverside City College for first place in the Orange Empire Conference standings this week after winning the conference match at the Oak Creek Golf Course which was hosted by Irvine Valley College.
Cypress' posted a five-man team score of 370 to win its second conference match in the past three outings. George Bris posted a 1-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors on the afternoon, turning in the only red number on the day. Teammate Andrew Thomson posted an even-par 71 along with Riverside's Everett Najera to share runner-up honors.
The win pushed Cypress (28 wins) to the top of the conference standings, sharing the top spot with Riverside, as Orange Coast (27 wins) is keeping pace with the leaders. Orange Coast edged out Riverside for second place in the Oak Creek match as the teams needed to to deeper into the tiebreaker criteria after posting identical 373 team scores. The sixth score for both teams couldn't break the tie as each player carded a 79 so the back nine scores had to be tabulated with Orange Coast holding a 179-186 advantage.
Justin Collins paced Orange Coast with a 74 while Myles Valentine and Josh McCollum each posted 75's. Riverside saw sophomore Robby Melton post a 73 with Michael Herrera adding a 75.
Saddleback (401) edged out Irvine Valley Valley (403) and Mt. San Antonio (407) in a close race for fourth place.
Najera continues to lead the conference in individual scoring, averaging 71.7 strokes per round. Dylan Hall (73.1) and Matt Rafter (74.4) - both of Cypress - are giving chase followed by Melton at 74.6.
The teams will compete on Wednesday, April 26, at the El Camino Country Club in Oceanside before wrapping up the conference schedule on Monday, May 1, with the one-day, 36-hole Orange Empire Conference Championship which will take place at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino.
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