After getting off to a slow start, the Bakersfield College men’s golf team has climbed its way into fourth place (23-19) in the Western State Conference, one match behind Ventura.
They are now in contention to qualify for a team spot in the regionals going into the conference championship at Alisaw Country Club in Solvang on April 25.
“Last year, we were coming off a strong team that finished sixth in the state,” said coach Larry Cook.
“We had four solid freshmen and only one returned. At first I thought we were going to be very strong. We started out as a green (young) team with a lot of talent but very inexperienced.”
After the first match of the season at Valencia Country Club on Feb. 2, the Renegades found themselves in second to last place in the conference with a record of 1-5 after shooting a team score of 418.
Their low scorer that day was the lone sophomore on the squad, Steven Wolf, who shot a 6-over-par 78.
Their next two tournaments at Santa Maria and Tierra Rejada weren’t much better.
BC finished both matches with 2-4 records and remained in sixth place in the conference at 5-13.
Due to weather problems, their following match didn’t take place until nearly a month later.
“All of the rainouts gave us a month to practice, and we took full advantage of it,” said Cook.
They practiced 10 times during that monthlong layoff, and it definitely started to show.
In the fourth match of the year at Glendora Country Club, Wolf excelled again, shooting a team-low 75 good enough for third place.
The rest of the team played well, too, as the Renegades posted a 398, their best of the season to that point.
“We haven’t placed out of third since, which is giving the kids a ton of confidence that they can qualify as a team for the regionals,” said Cook.
One week later, Mike Yates placed first at the SCGA Members Club with a 73 to propel his team to a 5-1 record on the day and a second-place finish.
Brandon Olsson also got into the mix shooting a 77, while Wolf shot a 75.
On April 11 at Saticoy Country Club, Yates shot a 75 to lead his team to a third-place finish while finishing two strokes behind the number one golfer in the conference, Aaron Conrad of Moorpark.
Behind Dustin Slikker’s 74, BC finished second to conference leading Canyons at Rio Bravo as the Renegades continued to show improvement and consistency.
Out of the six Renegades who participated in the tournament, five scored in the 70s as they posted a season low 383.
“Personally I am comfortable with where we stand going into the conference championships, and it would really be a surprise not to make it as a team,” Cook said.