By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

VENTURA — Carla Menendez shot a four-under round of 68 to help lead College of the Canyons to a 21-stroke victory during the opening round of the Western State Conference (WSC) Finals at Buenaventura Golf Course on Wednesday.

Canyons carded a four-player score of 313 to win the event ahead of Bakersfield College (334) and third place Allan Hancock College (348). Moorpark College (354), Antelope Valley College (367) and Citrus College snagged the next three team spots.

Menendez had started the day three strokes behind teammate Motoko Shimoji for the lead in the individual season standings, but quickly closed that gap. The freshman from Málaga, Spain will now begin round two of the WSC finals as the conference leader. Menendez has medaled in four straight conference events.

Shimoji carded a round of 77 on Wednesday to place fourth in the field of 34 individuals. The freshman earned medalist honors in the first three conference events of the season.

Flora Peugnet finished ninth overall with a round of 83. That number represented Peugnet’s lowest score at a WSC event since the conference tourney held at Woodley Lakes Golf Course on Oct. 3.

Brooke Maxwell continued her recent hot streak with a round of 85 to place 11th and serve as the final scorer for Canyons. Maxwell has now finished, 11th, 6th and 1st in the last three WSC events.

Ashley Cortez (95/T23rd) and Emma Tyni (100/30th) both competed for the Cougars but had their scores dropped from the final total.

Canyons will tee off with conference championship aspirations at Buenaventura Golf Course during round two of the WSC Finals on Monday, Oct. 31 beginning at 10 a.m.

From there, the Cougars will look toward the CCCAA Southern California Championships being held Nov. 6-7 at El Prado Golf Course in Chino.

TEAM SCORES
1. Canyons (313) 2. Bakersfield (334) 3. Allan Hancock (348) 4. Moorpark (354) 5. Antelope Valley (367) 6. Citrus (371) 7. Santa Barbara (NS)

CANYONS INDIVIDUAL SCORES
Carla Menendez (68-medalist); Motoko Shimoji (77-4th); Flora Peugnet (83-9th); Brooke Maxwell (85-T11th); Ashley Cortez (95-T23rd); Emma Tyni (100-30th).

FIELD INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS (TOP-20)

1 — 68 — Carla Menendez (COC)

2 — 73 — Carlee Stevens (SBCC)

3 — 75 — Maci Mills (BC)

4 — 77 — Motoko Shimoji (COC)

5 — 80 — Lili Ramos (MP); Madison Schafer (AVC)

7 — 81 — Jaidyn Eldridge (BC)

8 — 82 — Sydney Pruett (AHC)

9 — 83 — Flora Peugnet (COC)

10 — 84 — Danika Black (AHC)

11 — 85 — Brooke Maxwell (COC); Taylor Eldridge (BC)

13 — 89 — Victoria Cirrito (CIT); Alie Crone (MP); Erika Oceguera (CIT)

16 — 90 — Luna Sahagun (AHC)

17 — 91 — Megan Duncan (SBCC); Devin Middleton (MP)

19 — 92 — Khloe Branch (AHC)

20 — 93 — Ayanna Langdale (AVC); Danette Schutte (BC)

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.