By Ron Smith
September 11, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Men's and Women's Golf started off the 2023-24 season by making a statement at the California State Intercollegiate Tournament hosted by California Lutheran at the Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura.
 
The men's team placed second in the 10-team tournament and for the first time in program history completed a tournament under-par as a team. Westmont posted a four-under par 860. The previous lowest score relative to par in a three-round tournament was 15 over (879) at the same event one year ago.
 
"It was very exciting," exclaimed Westmont head coach Josh Ault. "Our men were in the hunt and finished in second place. There were two under-par teams and we were one of them. We had the lowest team score in the third round. We were fighting for that top spot, and it is good to see them working hard and have that desire to win. We ended up losing by just four when we were down by 13 starting the day.
 
"Hats off to Brock Yurkovich today – he shot minus one for his first college under par round," noted Ault. "Andy Knight was also one under par today and was our low player for the tournament at two under. Right behind him was freshman Trevor Moquin who had a top-10 finish in his first college event. He finished one-under par total, which is very exciting."
 
Knight was tied for seventh with a three-round score of 214. Moquin tied for ninth with 215 shots. Peyton Hendricks finished tied for 16th with a one-over 217 and Noah Lodewyk was one shot farther back and finished tied for 19th.
 
Our team was so consistent across the board, top to bottom. We have never had that in the golf program. I felt like I could count on all of them.
 
Another highlight was the programs' first hole-in-one in tournament play. Danny Manginelli accomplished the feat on the par-three eighth hole.
 
"I got up to the tee and noticed there was about a 20 mph wind. So, I took a little extra club for it and was aiming for the middle of the green. A lot of people were hitting it long, hitting it short – just not making good shots into the hole. With the extra club and playing my shot shape to the hole, I knew I would have a good chance of getting it back there. Honestly, it was probably the best shot I have ever hit in my life. It didn't leave the flag stick for an inch. I got up there (on the green), saw it was in the hole, and was super excited.
 
"I had a six iron, my yardage gun shot 166, but I gave it another 25 yards for the (head) wind. I couldn't be happier with the result."
 
The women's team also had a solid performance at Olivas Links.
 
"They started the day in eighth and moved up to sixth," reported Ault.
 
The Warriors were just one shot behind host California Lutheran for fifth pace.
 
"We had two freshmen play in their first college event," pointed out Ault. "Hannah Camara, who had to take a disqualification yesterday, led the way today with a plus-three 75. That shows a lot of perseverance. She self-reported an incorrect score on her scorecard, which showed a lot of integrity. That is hard to do, but I am proud of her.
 
"Noelle Thompson, our other freshman, also played great. She was plus-4 today and even-par yesterday.
 
Thompson was the Warriors' lowest two-round scorer, posting a total of 148 (+4) and tying for 16th place. Mallory Hopper notched a 152 (+8) to finished tied for 24th place,
 
"Mallory Hopper was one over yesterday," added Ault. "We have had a lot of consistency with our women."
 
Over the next two weeks, both teams will participate in the Sonoma State Fall Invitational. The men will play at The Links at Bodega Harbor in Bodega Bay on September 18 and 19. The women's team will play the following Monday and Tuesday at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club in Santa Rosa.
 
"I am very excited about the year ahead," stated Ault. "We feel like for both programs, these are the best teams we have had so far."