Bobcats increase OEC lead

The Saddleback women's golf team all but clinched the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) title on Wednesday with a win at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course in Irvine.  The Bobcats are now 48-0 heading into the OEC Finals.

Saddleback only has to field a full lineup next week to complete its fifth OEC title in the past six seasons.  The Bobcats won again on Wednesday with a score of 327, which was 11 shots better than second place Fullerton College.

Nicole Whipple led Saddleback with a round of +5 (77) to finish two shots back of Orange Coast College's Meah Collins for medalist honors.  Whipple is now two shots back of Fullerton's Catherine Lee in the race for the conference MVP after Lee shot 79 on Wednesday.

A tremendous round was turned in by Lia Harvey (pictured), who shot a season-low round of +7 (79).  The round was five shots better than Harvey's previous best of 84 shot at Cottonwood Golf Club earlier in the season.

Rounding out the team score for Saddleback was Kenzie Edson (82) and Karissa Flores (89).

Saddleback will play in the two-day, Orange Empire Conference Finals on Monday and Wednesday.  The Bobcats have already clinched a tie for the OEC title by virtue of having a 12-game lead over Fullerton.  Saddleback only needs to field a full lineup and not finish last in both rounds in order to clinch an outright title.

TEAM SCORES: