OEC Champs Again!
The Saddleback men's golf team is Orange Empire Conference champions after winning on Monday at Los Serranos Golf Club in Chino Hills. It's the second straight OEC title for the Bobcats and the 32nd conference title in program history.
Saddleback had a big lead heading into the OEC Finals on Monday and after the opening round things looked very good. The only remaining question was whether or not they would have an unblemished record in conference play when the day was done.
Saddleback didn't disappoint, winning both rounds with scores below par. The Bobcats opened the day with a -2 round (368) on the par-74 south course and finished at -1 in the second round (359) on the par-72 north course to finish the day 18-0. The two wins gave Saddleback a 56-0 record for the year in Orange Empire Conference play, going 20-0 in Coastal Division play and 36-0 in Neutral Division play.
Saddleback had a sizable lead after the opening round when three players shot under par. Arthur Hess, Clayton Smith and Declan Lane all shot -1 (73) in the opening round as the Bobcats won by 15 shots on the south course in the morning.
Saddleback was tested by College of the Desert in the afternoon round and trailed the Roadrunners with one player from each team remaining on the course. Jack Shipton (pictured below) then came in for Saddleback with a round of -1 (71) to give the Bobcats a three shot win over COD to remain undefeated on conference play. Aidan Valdez led Saddleback with a -2 (70) in the afternoon round. Hess also shot -1 on the afternoon round to finish -2 overall after 36 holes. He and Valdez (-2) finished tied for third place in medalist play behind College of the Desert's Se Min Song (-3) and Mt. San Antonio College's Ethan Thomas (-3).
All six players for Saddleback on Monday were named to the All-Orange Empire Conference Team (Aidan Valdez, Jack Shipton, Denis Watson, Clayton Smith, Arthur Hess, Declan Lane).
Saddleback will play again at the CCCAA Southern California Regional Finals at Industry Hills Golf Club on May 8.
TEAM SCORES:
| Rank (North) | Team | Score (par 72) 360 | Rank (South) | Team | Score (par 74) 370 | |
| 1 | Saddleback | 359 | 1 | Saddleback | 368 | |
| 2 | Desert | 362 | 2 | Desert | 383 | |
| 3 | Orange Coast | 371 | 3 | Cuyamaca | 384 | |
| 4 | Riverside City | 372 | 4 | Riverside City | 385 | |
| 5 | Cuyamaca | 374 | 5 | Orange Coast | 387 | |
| 6 | Mt. San Antonio | 380 | 6 | Mt. San Antonio | 391 | |
| 7 | Cypress | 386 | 7 | Cypress | 392 | |
| 8 | Mt. San Jacinto | 409 | 8 | Mt. San Jacinto | 415 | |
| 9 | El Camino | 413 | 9 | El Camino | 438 | |
| 10 | Victor Valley | DNQ | 10 | Victor Valley | DNQ |