PUNCHING THE TICKET TO THE STATE FINALS 

Fullerton College continues its quest to a CCCAA (California Community College Athletic Association) State Championship by finishing in second place behind Regional Champion Saddleback College in the two-day The Southern California CCCAA Regional Golf Championship which concluded yesterday at El Prado's Butterfield Stage Golf Course (par 72) in Chino Hills.

Led by the dominant play of sophomore Nicole Whipple, Saddleback College punched its ticket back to the state championships after topping the field at the Southern California Regionals Women's Golf Finals, hosted by Fullerton College, on Sunday and Monday at El Prado Golf Club.

It was a total contrast in conditions from Day 1 to Day 2 for the field. On Sunday, under perfect conditions for golf, Whipple led the way with an eye-popping 4-under-par 68 and followed that up on a wet and cold Monday with an even-par 72, shooting a two-round total of 4-under, 144.

The Bobcats, who trailed by one shot to fellow Orange Empire Conference rival, Fullerton College (316-317), handled the ragged conditions on Monday like the champions they are and shot a team score of 320 for a two-day total of 637.

The host Hornets, stayed right with the Bobcats, but finished second overall with a score of 316-328-644, followed by third-place College of the Canyons (338-318-656) and Bakersfield (341-348-689). Those four teams will take the trip up to Morro Bay for the California Community College Athletic Association Women's Golf State Championships, which kicks off on Sunday and ends Monday at the Morro Bay Golf Course.

Fullerton's Ylianna Fernandez earned the silver medal for her two-day performance, carding a 74 on Sunday and following that up with a 2-under 70 for a 144.

Canyons' Mitoko Shimoji finished third overall with a 151 (80-71), while Hornet standout Cathilyn Lee equaled Shimoji with a 151 (73-78).

Joining those four teams are nine individual players, including Orange Coast College's Emma Ashcraft (80-74-154) and OCC teammate Meah Collins (79-75-154), Cuyamaca's Esabella Barba (77-80-157), Mt. SAC's Kayla Loera (74-84-158), Santa Barbara's Carlee Stevens (80-79-159), Desert's Demi Preese (79-86-165), Antelope Valley's Madison Shafer (85-81-166), Kaitlyn Loera from Mt. San Antonio (81-88-169) and Joey Fletcher from Santa Barbara (87-84-171). Desert's Jensen Kelly (86-85-171) and Cuyamaca's Tara Bandi (85-86-171) are alternates.

Eunsoo Jeon was the last player to win the CCCAA Individual State Title for Fullerton College in 2018; the last team title won by Fullerton College was in 1970 under Coach Hal Sherbeck.

Up Next: The State Championships at Morro Bay November 13-14.