By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

LLANO, — College of the Canyons won its ninth straight Western State Conference (WSC) Championship on Monday, turning in a five-man, 36-hole score of 737 (362/375) at Crystalaire Country Club to win the event by 39 strokes and secure a trip to the CCCAA SoCal Regional Championships.

Canyons took the morning round by storm with every golfer shooting in the 70s. COC freshman Corey Haase fired a 70 on the first 18 to tie with Joey Herrera of Ventura for the top round.

Jones Comerford, Clayton Kucera and Clemente Yanes all carded even-par rounds of 72 to open up the event. Michael Lindgren and Jack Roycroft both shot a 76.

The Cougars finished at 362 after the first 18 holes to take a commanding lead over the field. Allan Hancock (391), Ventura (397) and Glendale (400) filled the next three spots heading into the afternoon round.

Canyons wasn’t as dominate in round two, but still saw five players shoot in the 70s to help extend the Cougars’ lead.

Comerford completed the day with a round of 74 to once again tie with Yanes at that mark. Kucera (75), Lindgren (76) and Roycroft (76) also scored for Canyons. Haase had his round of 80 dropped.

Monday’s championship round caps a run through the WSC schedule in which the Cougars won 10 of 12 events.

Comerford has been named the WSC Player of the Year after ranking first in the conference in total strokes (882), adjusted strokes (726), average (73.5) and adjusted average (72.6)

Haase, Yanes, Kucera and Lindgren all earned All-WSC First-Team honors.

Haase ranked No. 3 in the conference with an adjusted stroke score of 740. Adjusted scores are computed by dropping a player’s two highest rounds of the conference season. Only the 10 lowest scores are counted toward the adjusted season total.

Yanes ranked No. 5 at 754 and Kucera was No. 8 at 762. Lindgren also finished in the top-10 at 771.

Canyons head coach Gary Peterson was named WSC Coach of the Year.

COC has now won nine straight WSC titles dating back to the 2011 season. The 2018 title is the 24th in men’s golf program history, all coming under Peterson.

The defending state champion Cougars will next tee off at the CCCAA Southern California Regional Championships being played at Bakersfield Country Club on Monday, May 7. The 36-hole event is set to begin at 7 a.m.

Final Scores
1. Canyons (737 – 362/375) 2. Hancock (776 – 391/385) 3. Ventura (786 – 397/389) 4. SBCC (793 – 401/392) 5. Glendale (798 – 400/398) 6. Bakersfield (809 – 404/405) 7. Antelope Valley (852 – 432/420) 8. Citrus (931- 457/474) 9. Victor Valley (NA)

Canyons Individual Scores
Jones Comerford (146 – 72/74); Clemente Yanes (146 – 72/74); Clayton Kucera (147 – 72/75); Corey Haase (150 – 70/80); Michael Lindgren (152 – 76/76); Jack Roycroft (152 – 76/76).

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.