By Jesse Muñoz
COC Sports Information Director
ENCINO — College of the Canyons won a sixth straight conference tournament at Encino Golf Course last week, with sophomore Sahya Kitabatake taking medalist honors as the Cougars’ four scoring players all finished top eight in the field.
Kitabatake carded a three-over-par round of 75 to outlast runner-up Aidie Smith (76) of Santa Barbara City College. Kitabatake remains undefeated on the season, having medaled in each of the first six Western State Conference tourneys.
Sofia Allard shot a season-best score of 82 to place fifth in the field of 32 individuals. Allard has now placed in the top eight at the past three tournaments.
Alex Downing was just three strokes behind her teammate, finishing the day at 85 in sixth place to also remain hot. Downing joins Allard as having placed top eight in three consecutive events.
Baily Fara Lieberman tied for eighth in the field with a score of 89. That score represented her low round and best placement thus far this season.
Those performances allowed Canyons to turn in a team score of 331. That placed the Cougars 24 strokes ahead of runner-up Allan Hancock (355) with Santa Barbara City (356), Moorpark College (372), Bakersfield College (380) and Antelope Valley College (438) rounding out the team standings. Citrus also competed but only entered three players.
Zoe Keigley placed 20th in the field at 99, while Valerie Sherman was 22nd with a score of 108. Both had their scores scratched from the final COC team tally.
Canyons (36-0) will next compete at the WSC event hosted by Bakersfield College on Monday, Oct. 20. Tee time is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Rio Bravo Country Club.
• Team scores: 1. Canyons (331) 2. Allan Hancock (355) 3. Santa Barbara (356) 4. Moorpark (372) 5. Bakersfield (380) 6. Antelope Valley (438) 7. Citrus (NS).
• COC individual scores: Sahya Kitabatake (75-medalist); Sofia Allard (82-5th); Alex Downing (85-6th); Baily Fara Lieberman (89-T8th); Zoe Keigley (99-20th); Valerie Sherman (108-22nd).
