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Gaucho Men's Golf News from 2008
Gauchos finish as state runners-up in men's golf
Saddleback College entered this year’s state championship golf tournament as the defending state champion and, by early indications, it appeared that the Gauchos might repeat that honor. The Gauchos led after the morning round of this year’s state tournament, held May 12 at the SCGA Members Course in Murrieta, by the slightest of margins.
Andrew Gahan and Nick Ellis were two of only eight golfers in the 60-man field to finish under par during the morning round. The pair both shot 1-under-par 71s to help Saddleback to a five-man team score of 364. Moorpark (365), Canyons (366), and Fresno City (371) were not far behind.
No Gaucho golfers were able to shoot under par in the afternoon round but Ellis turned in an even-par 72 to cap off his best one-day tournament of the year. As a team the Gauchos shot a 371 for a 36-hole team total of 735.
Those numbers were very respectable and, after the first four golfers finished their afternoon rounds, it looked like Saddleback might hold onto that lead. But Canyon’s top two players came in under par to help the Cougars slip past Saddleback to win the state title with a team score of 727. Saddleback (735) held on to second place while Fresno City (739) moved up into third. It was Canyons fifth state title, winning its last title in 2006. Saddleback has six state titles to its credit.
 Canyons’ Casey Piper carded a 6-under-par 66 and Andrew Ok added a 2-under-par 70 to help the Cougars to a 361 afternoon round. Cypress’ David Min (67) and John San Juan (70) helped the Chargers to a 363 afternoon score, but Cypress’ morning round of 378 was too high to get the Chargers onto the trophy platform. Cypress settled for fourth place at 741.
Ellis won a three-way playoff to earn bragging rights as the third-place individual with his 36-hole total of 143. Gahan finished tied for eighth overall with a 145 and Zach Taylor finished tied for 21st with a 149. Tim Joerin finished tied for 26th at 150.
Nine players finished below par during the afternoon round. Weather during the entire day was in the low 60's with a cool breeze and a light drizzle early.
Gauchos win conference match at Cottonwood
The Saddleback men's golf team defeated all three conference foes in an Orange Empire Conference match at the Cottonwood Country Club on Wednesday (March 12), picking up an important win over host Cuyamaca.
Zach Taylor tied for medalist honors with a 4-under-par 68, the third time Taylor has won medalist honors this month. Van Johnstone added a 1-under-par 71 while Tim Joerin (73), Andrew Gahan (74), and Nick Ellis (76) also added to the scoring.
Saddleback's team score of 362 edged out Cuyamaca (370) and was also better than Orange Coast (369) or Cypress (375).
The Gauchos play a home match at Tijeras Creek on Wednesday (March 19) and will travel to play Riverside on the Victoria Country Club on Monday (March 24).
Gauchos edged by Santa Ana
Saddleback dropped its second Orange Empire Conference match of the season as host Santa Ana edged the Gauchos 365-368 on the south course at the Los Serranos golf course on Monday. Cuyamaca was well back at 388.
Saddleback sophomore Tim Joerin earned medalist honors for the third straight time in three conference matches, firing a 2-under-par 70 to share medalist honors with teammate Zach Taylor and Santa Ana’s Daren Johnson. Saddleback’s other three scorers all carded 76’s on the day.
Joerin is now 8-under-par through three conference matches.
Joerin earns medalist honors again
For the second match in a row Saddleback College sophomore golfer Tim Joerin was named the medalist after firing a low round of 69 on the Oak Creek course on Wednesday, helping the Gauchos defeat Irvine Valley College in an Orange Empire Conference match.
It’s been a good week for Joerin, who fired a 4-under-par 68 on the Twin Oaks course in San Marcos on Monday.
Van Johnstone added a 73 on Wednesday while Nick Ellis (74), Zach Taylor (75) and Cole Eby (78) also contributed to the team scoring. Saddleback evened its conference record to 1-1 on the season.
Gauchos place second in conference-opening match
Saddleback finished second in a four-team match to open the Orange Empire Conference men’s golf schedule. The Gauchos, who are the defending state champions, shot a team score of 363 to edge past Cypress (365) and Orange Coast (370). Event host Palomar picked up three victories on the day by shooting a team score of 354.
Saddleback sophomore Tim Joerin was the medalist on the day, firing a 4-under-par 68. Nick Ellis added a 73 while Cole Eby, Andrew Gahan, and Ray Biggerstaff each turned in 74’s.
Saddleback will continue with conference play on Wednesday (Feb. 27) when it travels to face Irvine Valley on the Oak Creek golf course.
Mike Rae takes over men's golf program
 Saddleback College has announced that Mike Rae will take over its men’s golf team, replacing Bill Cunerty at the helm of one of the state’s most successful community college golf programs.
Rae, who might be best known for his football success at USC and in the NFL during the 1970’s and ‘80s, has found similar success playing and coaching golf on a local level. As a competitive golfer, he has won three club championships in the Long Beach area. As a coach, he has guided the Long Beach City College men’s team for the past six seasons. Three of those teams won South Coast Conference titles and the 2006 team won the Southern California Regional title to qualify for the state tournament.
Rae takes over the Saddleback College men’s program from Cunerty, who retired from coaching after 26 years with the Gauchos’ program. Cunerty won 24 conference titles, five regional titles, and six state titles during that period.
The similarities between Cunerty and Rae are uncanny. Cunerty attended high school in Torrance, then played football and baseball at USC, playing quarterback on the Trojans’ national championship team in 1967. He was hired on as an assistant football coach at Saddleback in 1980.
Rae attended Lakewood High School, then played football and basketball at USC, playing quarterback on the Trojans’ 1972 national championship team. He was named the MVP of that team, which ESPN selected as the greatest college football team of all time. Rae went on to play 13 years of professional football, including a member of the 1976 Oakland Raiders team which won a Super Bowl during his rookie season. After his playing days, Rae spent four years coaching football at Orange Coast College. |
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