Pirate golfers prepping for State Championship
COSTA MESA -- The final test for the Orange Coast College men's golf team will take place on Sunday and Monday as the Pirates head up to Northern California for the 2025 3C2A Men's Golf State Championships at the Bayonet Golf Club.
The trip to Seaside, CA was earned by the Pirates after their strong performance at Monday's Southern California Regional Finals. The 3C2A Men's Golf State Championships will begin on Sunday at 8:30 a.m., with the final 18 holes set for Monday at 8:30 a.m.
In addition to Monday's superlatives, the Pirates also earned themselves an Orange Empire Conference title to their resumes, going 75-13 in OEC play, edging out Cypress (72-16) and College of the Desert (71-17) for the top spot.
"It's been an exceptional year and fortunately we are excited that we have earned the opportunity to compete for a state championship," OCC head coach Sean Collins said. "This has been a great year for our guys, but there are a bunch of great teams competing this weekend so it's going to take a team-wide two days of excellent golf against a tough field and a tough course for us to get this done."
It's been a steady year for all of the OCC golfers in 2025, led by Matt Ingram, who's 72.5 average throughout the season was third-lowest among all OEC golfers. He earned All-Southern California honors on Monday after shooting a two-round total of 143 (70-73) which was fourth-lowest in the entire regional.
"Matt is a very calm, confident, focused player," Collins said of Ingram. "It starts with his practice and work ethic. It's a pretty simple formula ... hit solid shots and work a lot on the short game and this guy is always putting. It pays off for Matt because he seems to always make that putt that needs to be made. His golf game is complete and with his ability to shoot low scores, he can definitely get this team in a position to win everything."
But it's going to take a team effort for the Pirates to be successful at the State Finals and that will include strong efforts from Troy Tarvin (74.5 average in 2025), Victor Chaparro (75.1), Tyler Chapman (75.4), Tate Garman (77.0) and Nate Rhee (77.3). All six golfers can shoot at-or-near par at any given time, which gives Coast a legitimate shot for the school's first state championship since back in 1958.
"I think we have good momentum going into State," Ingram said. "We have really good chemistry as a team and that will be a really important factor into believing in ourselves and our team. Bayonet is a pretty tricky course and you have to be able to hit fairways and focus on the greens to win State. I know we have what it takes and we're all pumped up and ready to go.
It's the first team appearance for OCC at the state finals since 2018, where Coast finished third overall. In 2013, Coast came close to the title, finishing second overall. It's Coast's fifth trip to the state finals since 2010.
Joining OCC this weekend are defending state champion College of the Canyons, Santa Barbara City, College of the Desert and Ventura from the South. Up north, it will be Reedley College, San Joaquin Delta, Sierra and Modesto playing for the team title.
As for the Bayonet course, expect to see lots of narrow, tree-lined fairways, deep bunkers and undulating greens ... a course worthy of a state championship venue. "The course is beautiful," Collins said. "Giant trees, slick greens and rough that makes you pay. There will be demand for driving the ball well off the tee ... hitting fairways and greens is crucial. The par-3's are long and surrounded by bunkers, so the team which has the most patience and believes that par is not just a good score, but a great score, will most likely win."
