Vaqueros take fifth in Point Conception Open

Gabe Cloquet, Jack Heavey and Felix Dine shot 76, 77 and 78, respectively, on Monday to guide SBCC to fifth place in the season-opening Pt. Conception Open men's golf tournament at La Purisima GC.

Defending state champion Canyons captured the two-day, 14-team tourney with rounds of 375 and 368 on the difficult course in Lompoc. The Cougars totaled 743 and beat the runner-up Cypress by 29 shots. Ventura was third at 781 and Desert took fourth at 784, edging the Vaqueros (390-395) by one stroke.

"I was very happy to see five of our guys in the 70s on the first day," said SBCC coach Chuck Melendez. "I challenged the guys to really focus on their games. This is a tough course with tough greens."

Dine, a freshman from Sweden, led the Vaqueros, shooting 76 on Sunday and 78 on Monday. He tied for 12th at 154. Heavey (78-77), the only sophomore on the team, and Cloquet (79-76) tied for 15th at 155.

Ray Abels, from Pleasanton, Calif., fired a 1-under 71 on Monday and tied for medalist honors. He played as an individual for the Vaqueros.

Joey Herrera of Ventura won the tourney with rounds of 73 and 72 for a 1-over 145 that was one stroke better than Jones Comerford of Canyons and Kieran Blundell of Mt. San Jacinto. Blundell shot the low round of the tourney (2-under 70) to earn first-round medalist honors.

SBCC will host three tournaments this year – WSC No. 3 on Feb. 19 at the Alisal Ranch Course in Solvang, the Sandpiper Invitational on April 9 and the State Championships (36 holes) at Sandpiper on Monday, May 14.

The Vaqueros will compete in WSC No. 1, hosted by Canyons, on Monday at Valencia CC.

Pt. Conception Open
At par-72 La Purisima GC
Final scores
 Team -- 1, Canyons 375-368--743. 2, Cypress 383-389--772. 3, Ventura 401-380--781. 4, Desert 394-390--784. 5, SBCC 390-395--785. 6, Palomar 394-396--790. 7, Mt. San Jacinto 386-408--794. 8, Monterey Peninsula 408-397--805. 9, Mt. SAC 409-402--811. 10, Taft 421-405--826. 11, Hancock 421-423--844. 12, Irvine Valley 422-426--848. 13, Bakersfield 431-427--858. 14, Glendale 437-DQ.
 Medalist (par 72) -- 1, Joey Herrera, Ventura, 73-72--145. 2 (tie), Kieran Blundell, Mt. San Jacinto, 70-76--146; Jones Comerford, Canyons, 73-73--146. 4, Michael Lindgren, Canyons, 74-73--147.
 SBCC scores -- 12 (tie), Felix Dine 76-78--154. 15 (tie), Jack Heavey 78-77--155; Gabe Cloquet 79-76--155. Zach Steinberger 79-82--161, Kotaro Noda 78-84--162, Austin Duffy 83-82--165. Competed as individuals: 18 (tie), Ray Abels 85-71—156, Ezra Allen 84-91--175.
 SBCC record -- 9-4.