By Ron Smith
October 8, 2024
 
(GOLETA, Calif.) Westmont Men's and Women's Golf each earned first place in the Westmont Invitational conducted at Sandpiper Golf Course. The two-day event was played in extremely foggy conditions on Monday and a bit better visibility on Tuesday. Despite the challenges produced by the fog, the men's team won by three strokes and the women's team captured a four-stroke victory.
 
"It is a good way to show out," said Westmont's head coach Leo Maes. "I am proud of both teams. It's good progress and good preparation for the conference meet in April."
 
Westmont freshman Nicholas Rocha captured the individual men's title by posting a score of 70 (-2) during Monday's first round and a 71 (-1) in the second round on Tuesday. Rocha won by one stroke over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Arnold He who shot even par on Monday and a 70 (-2) on day two.
 
"This is my second collegiate start and my first win as a collegiate athlete, so it's pretty special," said Rocha after receiving his first-place trophy. "I went back to playing my game. I didn't play too well in the first tournament. I came back to the way I'm used to playing, focused, and it just worked out. I left it up to God and just hit the number I saw. We couldn't really see the holes because of the fog. We just hit it into nothing, hoping it was good."
 
"I am proud of Nico," said Maes. "I have known him for a month and a half now and am getting to know his game more. He was consistent within a two-round setting. As a freshman, the sky is the limit. He just needs to keep working hard and focus on his daily goals."
 
The men's team had a little extra motivation for today's win.
 
"During the last three weeks or so, they learned that I was a vegan," said Maes. "I told them that if they won something, that I would have a piece of meat. So, tomorrow in the Dining Commons, I will be eating some chicken."
 
Westmont's Blaze Rader was part of a three-way tie for fourth place with a score of 146. After scoring 77 (+5) in the first round, Rader scored the tournament's lowest round of 69 (-3) on Tuesday to move up 10 places.
 
Tyler Williams was the third lowest scorer on the team with a two-day total of 152 (+8), scoring a 78 and 74 to tie for 15th place. Max Hosfeld posted a score of 152 over the two days, posting an even-par 72 on Monday.
 
As a team, the men scored a 586 (+10) to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 589 (+13). Occidental finished third with a tally of 595 (+19). Chapman claimed fourth place with a score of 599 (+23) while Menlo was in fifth with a total of 601 (+25).  Dominican notched sixth with a score of 606 (+30) while Chaminade (Hawaii) came in seventh at 617 (+41).
 
In the women's competition, Westmont's 638 (+62) was four strokes better than Point Loma and Westminster (Utah), both of whom tied for second with a score of 642 (+66). Menlo was the third place finisher at 548 (+72) while Dominican took fifth with 669 (+93), and Occidental was sixth at 677 (+101).
 
The women's tournament was won by Point Loma's Kiara Hernandez who scored a round of 76 (+4) on Monday, then dropped seven strokes on Tuesday to record a tournament-low 69 (-3). That gave her a two-day total of 145 (+1).
 
Hannah Camara led the way for the Warriors with a score of 155 (+11) to claim sole possession of third place. On Monday, she shot an opening round of 77 (+5), then followed that up with a round of 78 (+6). Westmont's Kyla Layman and Sydnee Magpoc were both part of a three-way tie for fourth with a score of 158 (+14). Both players shot a 76 (+4) on Monday and an 82 (+10) on Tuesday.
 
The Warriors' fourth finisher was Charlie Bloom who finished in a tie for 16th with a score of 167 (+23). In the final home tournament of her collegiate career, Bloom posted scores of 83 (+11) and 84 (+12). As she finished putting on the 18th green, Bloom was presented with a bouquet of flowers by her teammate Liz Oloteo.
 
"It is definitely bitter-sweet," said Bloom of competing in her final tournament on home turf. "It was amazing seeing the team come together. It was really special. It has been so fun and I am grateful. I have learned so much. Golf has been formative for me and I've grown a lot. God has surprised me in a lot of ways through Westmont Golf and I am really grateful."
 
Asked what the team's victory means to her, Bloom replied, "It is so sweet. It is such a great way to finish out the fall season. It shows that a lot of our practice this fall paid off. I think it shows that we have a lot of momentum and potential going into this spring."
 
Having concluded the fall season, the women's team will next compete in February. The men's team has one more tournament this fall. Next Monday and Tuesday, October 14-15, the Warriors will participate in the Otter Invitational hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay. The event will be held at the Bayonet & Blackhorse Golf Courses in Seaside.