No. 24 Men's Golf wins SCIAC No. 2, takes overall lead


RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The No. 24 La Verne men's golf team rode its red-hot start to claim SCIAC No. 2 on Sunday at Oak Quarry Golf Club.

La Verne finished with a total score of 593 (288-305) and has taken the overall SCIAC championship lead through four rounds (591-593=1184). The Leopards lead second-place and defending national champion Claremont-Mudd-Scripps by eight strokes (583-609=1192) with three rounds left to play.

The Leopards struggled in the second round, posting the second highest team score of the day, but their scorching start on Saturday during which they took a 15-stroke lead over the next closest team was enough to see them through.

Austin Matzaganian shot a 2-over 74 to lead the Leopards in the second round. Matzaganian, who posted a 74 in the first round as well, finished tied for sixth overall.

Alec Spencer and Aaron DiGiamarino, who both shot under par in the first round to stake La Verne to the lead, slowed down in the final round but still finished in the top-6. DiGiamarino finished tied for fourth after carding a 77 today (70-77=147) and Spencer posted a 79 to finish tied for sixth (69-79=148) with Matzaganian.

DiGiamarino is tied with Occidental's Dylan Jirsa for the overall SCIAC individual lead with a total score of 288 after four rounds.

Jason Brown finished tied for 10th after coming in with the team's second-lowest score of the day with a 76 (75-76=151).

Josh Davis and Conner Davis rounded out La Verne's lineup with total scores of 161 (83-78) and 162 (81-81), respectively.

Redlands's Dylan Merchant took the individual title with a total score of 144 (74-70).

The Leopards return to action at the SCIAC Championships on April 23-25 at Los Serranos Country Club.

SCIAC Standings SCIAC 1     SCIAC 2     Total
1. La Verne 591 593 1184
2. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps      583 609 1192
3. Redlands     607 597 1204
4. Pomona-Pitzer 591 614 1205
5. Chapman 607 604 1211
6. Occidental 603 619 1222
7. Cal Lutheran 615 609 1224
8. Whittier 614 625 1239