By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

CHINO HILLS — College of the Canyons has won the 2019 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern California Regional Championship after coming back from 13 strokes behind to hold off runner-up Mt. San Antonio College.

The Southern California championship is the program’s second straight regional title, and seventh overall. The Cougars have also won six regional championships in the last nine years (2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019).

The victory comes on the heels of COC having won its 10th straight Western State Conference (WSC) championship a week ago.

Canyons had three players shoot under par in the final round to help in the comeback effort.

COC freshman Nobuhiko Wakaari, the Western State Conference (WSC) Player of the Year, was the Cougars’ low man with a total score of 143 (72/71). He shot an even par round of 72 at Los Serrano’s North Course in the opening round, then finished with a three-under score of 71 on the South Course to finish the afternoon. That tied for fourth overall in the field of 67 golfers from across the region.

Freshman Jules Lavigne (145-73/72) also saved his best for the afternoon round with a two-under score of 72. Likewise, for Matthew Mansholt (146-73/73) who was one-under on the back 18.

Tom Sims (147-71/76), Jack Greene (147-73/74) and Anguerrand Voisin (151-71/80) also scored for Canyons. Greene had his opening round of 73 dropped from the morning tally, and Voisin’s round of 80 was dropped from the afternoon scores.

“(We) came back from 13 down to win by six,” said COC head coach Gary Peterson. “I’m very proud of the guys.”

Runner-up Mt. SAC (732-347/385) saw three players shoot in the 60s to begin the day scorching hot. That helped the Mounties open up a big lead over second place Canyons and Cypress College (740-360/380) who were tied after the opening round. The Chargers ended up finishing fourth overall behind third place Santa Barbara City College (739-379/360).

The Cougars now move on to the CCCAA State Championships being played Monday, May 13, at Silverado Resort in Napa.

Canyons has won eight state championships in program history with the most recent coming in 2017. COC finished runner-up at the state championships a year ago behind Cypress.

Final scores:
1. Canyons (726-360/366) 2. Mt. SAC (732-347/385) 3. Santa Barbara (739-398/360) 4. Cypress (740-360/380) 5. Orange Coast (741-372/369) 6. Palomar (744–368/376)

Canyons individual scores:
Nobuhiko Wakaari (143-72/71); Jules Lavigne (145-73/72); Matthew Mansholt (146-73/73); Tom Sims (147-71/76); Jack Greene (147-73/74); Anguerrand Voisin (151-71/80).

Stay up to date on all this season’s action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.