Pirates ahead of the pack after Day 1 of OEC Finals
MENIFEE -- The Orange Coast College women's golf team continues to excel at just the right time as the Pirates shot a team-best score of 317 after Day 1 of the Orange Empire Conference Finals on Monday at Menifee Lakes Golf Club.
The Pirates, who finished the regular conference season 39-9 overall and in second place in the OEC standings behind only Saddleback (48-0), ended up nine shots clear of the Bobcats after the opening round, with Round 2 set for Wednesday at the same location.
The OCC trio of Stephanie Tran, Meah Collins and Katherine Crinella each continued their impressive seasons with spectacular opening-round play. Tran and Collins each shot a 4-over-par, 76, just one shot off the low round of the day, turned in by Lehapi Taungahihifo of College of the Desert (75).
Crinella, who finished one shot off of her Pirate teammates with a 77, joined that standout trio and Saddleback's Amber Davalos (79) as the only golfers in the field who carded a sub-80 score for the afternoon.
OCC's April Garcia shot an 88 to finish the scoring foursome for the Pirates, while other top scores were turned in by Emma Ashcraft (90) and Michelle Manzo (101).
Following Wednesday's conclusion to the OEC Finals, the Pirates will head to Bakersfield for the Southern California Regional Championships on Sunday and Monday at Sundale Golf Club.
