MORRO BAY, Calif. — College of the Canyons placed seventh at the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships to cap a season in which the Cougars returned to their position as one of the state’s top programs.

Canyons, which was playing in a state championship tourney for the first time since 2014, finished with a two-day score of 706 (364/342) at Morro Bay Golf Course to take seventh in the field of eight teams.

Modesto College shot a 633 (316/317) to be crowned state champion for the first time in its program history. Modesto was followed by 2016 state champion Sierra College at 637 (324/313) in the runner up position. Santa Barbara City College, the Western State Conference champion, was third with a score of 641 (324/317).

Cañada College (644-325/319), Cuyamaca College (652-331/321), Moorpark College (699-356/343), Canyons and Butte College (712-354/358) represented the rest of the field.

COC freshman Joanna Roecker (77/76), playing the final event of her freshman campaign, finished day one tied for fifth, and eventually placed ninth overall with a two-day score of 153. That mark left her just four strokes behind Aman Sangha of Cañada who claimed the last of six All-State Team slots.

Nao Bando (71/70) turned in the top round on both days to earn the individual state championship at a score of 141.

Hannah Lovering (75/70) of Reedley College, Vanessa Watkins (76/69) of SBCC, Brittney Do (71/76) of Saddleback College and Kylie Sok (72/76) each earned All-State Team honors with their rounds.

Canyons freshman Gina Chung (92/82) shaved 10 strokes of her day one score to help drive COC’s comeback attempt and finished 40th overall at the event.

Likewise for Stephanie Blin (99/90) and Alexandra Guerrero (96/94) who both reduced their scores on day two to finish 49th and 50th, respectively.

The 36-hole CCCAA State Championship tourney was hosted by Santa Barbara at Morro Bay Golf Course on Nov. 12-13. Teams began their first rounds on Sunday morning followed by a shotgun round on Monday.

In addition to the eight qualifying teams, the top six individuals from each regional event that were not rostered by one of the advancing schools also qualified to compete.

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.

— Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information