Rugg, Aldridge and Nelson Finish in Top 24 at WSC Finals, Qualify for Regionals

Allan Hancock College sophomore Jett Rugg tied for eighth overall, while Eddie Aldridge and Daniel Nelson finished in the top 24 during the 2019 Western State Conference Men's Golf Finals on Monday. All three Hancock golfers qualified for next week's Southern California Regional Championships. The 36-hole WSC Finals took place at Soule Park Golf Course in Ojai.

Rugg shot a one-over 73 in the first round and followed it up with a 74 over his final 18 holes for a 36-hole total of 147. His 73 was the sixth-lowest score in the field in the first round, while his 74 tied for 10th in the final 18 holes. He earned a spot on the All-Western State Conference First Team. 

Aldridge carded a 77 and 78 for a total score of 155, which tied for 20th overall. Hancock's Nelson, a Righetti High School graduate, shot 78 in both rounds for a total score of 156, which tied 23rd overall in the individual standings.

College of the Canyons finished first at the finals with a five-played combined score of a six-under 714. Four players shot under par in the second round to secure a 16-shot advantage over runner-up Santa Barbara City College. The Vaqueros finished with a total score of 730. Bakersfield finished third on the day with a total score of 771, followed by Glendale in fourth with 376, and Ventura in fifth with 783 total strokes. Hancock, Citrus, and Victor Valley did not field the required five players to qualify in the team standings at the final. Freshmen Anguerrand Voisin and Nobuhiko Wakaari, both from Canyons, finished with the top scores of the day. Voisin shot a 70 in both rounds to finish with a four-under 140. Wakaari fired a 73 and 69 to end with a total score of 142.

All three Bulldogs qualified as individuals for next week's regional based on their overall scores during the conference season or their performance during the finals. Rugg finished eighth overall in the WSC individual season standings with an adjusted average of 77.00 strokes per round during 11 rounds of conference play. The Nipomo HIgh School graduate earned All-Conference status with his top-10 status. Aldridge finished 20th overall with a season average of 81.00, while Nelson placed 27th at 83.44.  

For the season, Canyons finished 83-5 overall to secure its tenth straight conference title. Santa Barbara came in second at 80-8, and Ventura in third at 63-25. Those three, as well as Bakersfield, based on its effort at the WSC Finals, advanced to compete as a team at the Southern California Regional Championships.

Irvine Valley College hosts the 36-hole Southern California Regional Championships on Monday, May 6, at the Los Serranos Golf Club in Chino Hills. The top four teams at regionals and top four individuals with the lowest scores, who are not on a top-four team, will represent the south at the state tournament. The CCCAA State Championships will take place May 13, at the Silverado Resort in Napa.