Victory over Redlands, Cal Lu puts ULV on top

by Matt Paulson
Special to the Campus Times

The mascot for the University of Redlands is a bulldog, but for the University of La Verne golf team, it may as well have been a monkey, a monkey that has decided to attach itself to the team’s collective back for the past two years.

But no more, as the Leopards shed their monkey Wednesday at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, shooting even par as a team to win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title by five strokes over California Lutheran University and Redlands, after finishing second in the conference to Redlands the past two years.

In the meantime, ULV secured a bid to the national tournament.

“It’s awesome,” said senior Joe Skovron, who shot even par for the day. “You have no idea. It’s been a long wait. Awesome. I have no other way to describe it.”

Joey Murray medaled with a 3-under-par 143, while Skovron came in second for the Leopards with an even-par 146 and Andrew Garcia shot a 1-over 73-74—147.

Freshman Nathan Logan, who has been the surprise of the season for ULV, shot a 73-79—152, while Brad Booher turned in a 149 (73-76).

“It was an exciting day,” head coach Rex Huigens said. “I’m very happy for the team.”

Murray’s performance is just another in a long string of team-leading tournaments for the senior. His 72 at Red Hill Country Club April 19 was good enough for the medal. In the two conference matches against Redlands and Cal Lu, preceding the Red Hill tournament, Murray was second for the Leopards with a 72 and a 73. Before that, he finished fourth individually in the 12-team District 6 Invitational with a two-round total of 146. For his play, Murray was awarded SCIAC co-player of the year.

“Everything just kind of clicked for the first time since I’ve been here,” Murray said. “I finally put it together.”

Skovron and Logan received spots on the first-team all-conference squad and Garcia was second-team.

The conference title helped clinch a spot in the national tournament, which will be held this year in Redlands.

At least the top three teams in each district are invited to the national tournament.

According to district chairman and Cal Lu head coach Jeff Lindgren, La Verne has been ranked the top seed in the West Region – arguably the most competitive district in the nation, including Division III teams from Texas, Washington, Oregon and California. Redlands is seeded second and Cal Lutheran is third.

But ULV’s recent history in nationals has not been all that memorable. Last year, La Verne finished 21st of 23 teams at the national tournament in Delaware, Ohio, and the Leopards’ 20th-place finish in 2002 at nationals in Lincoln, Neb. was not much better.

“I feel like this is the best team we’ve had,” Skovron said. “It’s realistic to think winning or top five.”

Entering Wednesday’s match, La Verne faced a must-win situation. Despite topping the conference in the first of the two 18-hole matches at Red Hill with a team total of 298, the Leopards struggled to a fourth-place finish April 23 at Brookside Country Club with a total of 297.

Redlands finished second and first, respectively, in the two tournaments, taking a two-point overall lead in the conference, forcing the Leopards to make up that deficit in the final match of the year at Los Serranos.

Because the final match is 36 holes, the points double, and two points separate each place rather than just one like in the two previous 18-hole matches, making it possible for the Leopards to simply beat Redlands and, at worst, tie for the crown.

But ULV took it one step further and won outright with a little help from Cal Lu, who beat Redlands in a four-man playoff to take second place in the match and snatch two points from the Bulldogs.

“I’ve been dying to win conference,” Murray said. “It shouldn’t have been this hard.”