SBCC shoots 2nd-best score, falls 3 strokes shy of Canyons

SBCC turned in its second-best score of the season on Wednesday but still came up a couple of shots short in its quest to dethrone Canyons from the top spot.

The Cougars won their seventh straight conference tourney, taking WSC No. 7 with 316 strokes at Simi Hills Golf Course. The Vaqueros were second at 319 and Antelope Valley was a distant third with 403.

Pratima Sherpa shot a 2-over 73 and placed second behind the medalist, Jessie Lin of Canyons who carded an even-par 71. SBCC sophomore Alexa Bleth notched her second-best score of the year (79) and took fourth.

"I watched Pratima on the 18th hole and she hit a nice 3-wood from 215 yards to within 18 feet for eagle," said Vaquero coach Chuck Melendez. "She barely missed her eagle and tapped in for a birdie. She's playing better and better and gaining confidence."

Marie Naud, a freshman from Saugus, shot her season low for the second time in three days to place sixth. Naud shot 83 on Wednesday after an 86 on Monday in WSC No. 6.

Cally Casterline (84) was seventh and Paris White took eighth at 85, missing her season best by one stroke. The Vaqueros had five players in the top eight.

"Marie has been hitting it better and her technique is improving," said Melendez. "She's starting to figure it out."

The Vaqueros will get another chance to overtake Canyons on Monday in WSC No. 8. The 18-hole tourney will be hosted by the Cougars and held at Sand Canyon CC in Santa Clarita.
 
WSC No. 7
At par-71 Simi Hills GC
Final scores
 Team -- 1, Canyons 316. 2, SBCC 319. 3, Antelope Valley 403. 4, Citrus 416. 5, Bakersfield 454. 6, Moorpark, no score.
 Medalist (par 71) -- 1, Jessie Lin, Canyons, 71. 2, Pratima Sherpa, SBCC, 73. 3, Haruka Koda, Canyons, 75. 4, Alexa Bleth, SBCC, 79. 5, Paige Heuer, Canyons, 82. 6, Marie Naud, SBCC, 83. 7, Cally Casterline, SBCC, 84. 8, Paris White, SBCC, 85.
 SBCC scores – 2, Sherpa 73. 4, Bleth 79. 6, Naud 83. 7, Casterline 84. 8, White 85. 13, Honey Lawrie 92.
 WSC standings -- 1, Canyons 35-0. 2, SBCC 28-7. 3, Antelope Valley 17-18. 4, Citrus 15-20. 5, Bakersfield 10-25. 6, Moorpark 0-35.
 SBCC overall record -- 35-16.