Pirate Golf Finishes 3rd, Herrera 2nd at State Championships

The Ventura College golf team matched its best finish ever, and freshman Joey Herrera tied for second place overall in the 36-hole CCCAA State Championships at the par-72 Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande Monday. The Pirates put together team scores of 399 and 390, for a total score of 789, behind state champions Canyons (761), who ran away with the title, and Cypress (785). Herrera put together rounds of  73 and 76 to post a 5-over 149 which tied him for second place.

In the morning round, VC posted a team score of 399, which had them in fifth place at the midway point of the championships.  The Pirates improved on that score by nine strokes, carding a 390 in the afternoon to jump two teams to land in third place.

After Herrera, Denis Kakimoto shot 78, 79 - 157 to come in 16th overall of the 60 golfers on the course. Kyle Dollison recorded scores of 81, 78 - 159 and Brandon Resnick posted 87, 77 - 164. Ethan Winkler posted 85, 80 - 165 and Connor Philpott shot 82, 91 - 173.

Monday was the Pirates' 10th appearance in the state championships as a team and their first since 2009. The third place finish matches the 2009 team with the best overall placing in the championships.