April 17, 2011

Championship Central.

HOLLISTER, Calif. - Coming off its best performance of the season just a week ago, the LMU men's golf team travels to Hollister, Calif., and San Juan Oaks Golf Club for the 2011 West Coast Conference Championships. First round action for the Lions begins at 7:30 a.m., Monday.

The Lions' line-up will be the same as their second place finish at the Braveheart Classic on April 12. Junior Jake Sarnoff posted a three-round 208 (8-under) to win the individual title while the Lions shot a combine 872 to finish second place. He will be joined by senior John Lim, sophomores Bryan Bergna and Eduardo Chavez, and freshman Tyler Torano.

Sarnoff will pace the Lions line-up at the WCC Championships as he enters the tournament with five top-20 finishes, three of which were top-five. He leads the Lions with a 73.1 stroke average, shooting 11 rounds this season under par.

He is quietly sneaking into LMU's record book this season. His 208 last week matched his lowest three-round score of his career, first doing it a year ago at the Anteater Invitational. The 208 is the eighth best round in school history for 54 holes. In addition, his 11 rounds under par this season give him 47 for his career, third best in LMU history. He has also matched his total of six from last season in which he was the low score of the Lions at a tournament, which is ranked fifth all-time.

Torano has added to the Lions long-list of successful freshman, ranking second for the Lions with a 74.0 stroke average and earning four top-20 finishes, three of which were top-10. His best tournament score came at the Purple and Red Invitational (Oct. 11-12) where he finished tied for sixth with a 213 (3-under). This spring he finished eighth at the Anteater Invitational, shooting a season-low 68 in the first round. He is coming off a tie for 10th at the Braveheart Classic, shooting a 218.

The two sophomores are third and fourth in scoring for the Lions, with the transfer Chavez ranking third at 75.6 and Bergna at 75.8. In his first season after transferring from New Mexico, Chavez' best tournament came at the Palouse Cougar Collegiate (Sept. 13-14) with a 212 (4-under), good for a tie for 12th. He posted the Lions' best single round of the season with a 66, including a 30 on the front nine.

Bergna also had his best score of the season at the Palouse Collegiate with a 221, and has lowered his career average over a stroke this season.

The veteran of the group will be Lim. The four-year senior has played 112 rounds in his career and has a career average of 75.3. He has posted an average of 76.7 this season, including a top-20 finish at the Folino Men's Invitational (Mar. 21-22), shooting a 218 (5-over). He had the best round of the season with a 69 in the final round to finish in a tie for 11th.

The San Juan Oaks Golf Club will challenge the field in this year's championships. The par-72 course plays at 7,133 yards from the championship tees. The course rating is 75.6 and it has a slope rating of 145 on Blue grass. Designed by Fred Couples/Gene Bates, the San Juan Oaks 1 golf course opened in 1996.

Follow the action live through GolfStat.com.