The University of La Verne golf team was victorious in the third Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament of the season on March 24 at the Sierra La Verne Country Club.
La Verne totaled 294 points to beat the University of Redlands who totaled 297 points by three strokes. Both the Leopards and the Bulldogs were trailed by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps with 300 points, Cal Lutheran with 308 points, Pomona-Pitzer with 309 points, Occidental with 317 and Whittier with 350 points.
“The day was good,” junior Rizal Amin said. “The set up of the golf course was good.”
Amin finished with a final score of 76 on the day.
ULV has been victorious in the previous two SCIAC tournaments on Feb. 20 and March 10 with 284 and 290 points giving them a 3-0 record in conference.
“This one (tournament) was a little more competitive,” sophomore Mitchell Fedorka said. “The teams are getting better so we have to step it up.”
With a round of 72, senior Chris Davis had the top individual finish of the day. Davis was followed by Fedorka and freshman Ryan Waring who both were tied in a group of five players for second with rounds of 73.
On March 18, the Leopards took second place with 929 points at the Kingsmen Invitational at La Purisima Golf Course.
“We really had a good opportunity to win,” sophomore Andrew Kramer said.
Davis took second place overall in the tournament. Fedorka took 12th, Waring placed 19th, Amin placed 22nd and junior Jordan Talah finished 33rd.
Amin said for the rest of the season, the team needs to keep playing as successfully as they have been.
“Hopefully we stay consistent,” Amin said.
Kramer said the team hopes to continue to be successful and go to Nationals.
As of Wednesday, the team is currently ranked No. 8 in the Golf World Division III top 25 poll.
La Verne will continue its season on April 8 at the West Regional Invitational at Berry Creek in Texas.
Marilee Lorusso can be reached at mlorusso@ulv.edu.
