The 2016 Orange Empire Conference women's golf schedule got underway this week with two quick matches being hosted by Orange Coast and Fullerton before a three week lull in the action.

The conference schedule originally had all OEC matches spread out over the course of the semester but, do to course availability and conditions, the schedule was rearranged and now all six conference matches have been compressed into just three weeks.

Irvine Valley took advantage of the schedule in the first match, posting a team score of 347 to win the team competition on the Mesa Linda course at Costa Mesa CC.   Araceli Esquivel carded a 79 to earn medalist honors in leading the Lasers to the win, followed by Marisa Bhanubandh with an 81.   Saddleback (360) finished second and Orange Coast (369) finished third.

Two days later, the teams were all participating on the Diamond Bar course in a match hosted by Fullerton College.  Saddleback posted a team score of 341 to win the team competition, followed by Irvine Valley (351) and Mt. San Antonio (355).   IVC's Bhanubandh posted a 2-over-par 75 to earn medalist honors over her teammate Esquivel (76) while Saddleback's Mekenzie Purcell (78) finished third individually to pace the Gauchos to victory.  Brooke Barker (79) of Fullerton paced the Hornets on their home course.

The OEC golfers will hit the links again on Wednesday, October 12, when all five teams participate on a neutral course.  The teams will be playing the par 72 Alta Vista Country Club in Placentia before continuing on to play the Oak Creek course in Irvine on October 19.