Desert Takes Early Lead; Nilson, Rombouts Hold Early Edge Atop Leaderboard at 3C2A Men's Golf Championships

Day One Individual and Team Standings | Day One Player and Team Scores

La Quinta, Calif. - The temperatures were high and the scores were low as the best golfers in the state teed it up on Day 1 of the 3C2A Men's Golf State Championships at SilverRock Resort Golf Course on Sunday.

After the opening 18 holes of this 36-hole championship, the host College of the Desert Roadrunners felt right at home with the 105-degree temps and finished with an even-par team score of 288 to lead the way after the opening round. Other teams in the mix for the team state title include Victor Valley (293), College of the Canyons (294), Sierra (297) and Reedley (299).

San Joaquin Delta College sits in fifth place in the team standings after carding a 305, followed by Orange Coast (309), Ventura (309) and Napa Valley College (309).

Canyons standout, Anthony Nilson – the Western State Conference Player of the Year - played strong and steady against all of the elements and shot a 3-under-par, 69 to lead the pack after the opening round. Nilson carded just one bogey to go along with four birdies for his impressive 18-hole performance.

Joining Nilson atop the leaderboard is Reedley's Julian Rombouts, who equaled Nilson's performance with a one-bogey, four-birdie march around the course for a 69.

Just one shot off the pace for the individual state title includes a foursome of golfers who shot 70, including Brady McColm (Victor Valley), Cory Rose (Victor Valley ), Sinjin Armstrong (Desert) and Ian Shahwan (Cypress). 

Others who also thrived in the elements and shot even par or better include Ventura's Donovan Chappell (71), Victor Valley's Brady Fonville (71), Sierra's Tanner Wade (71), Desert's Linus Utter (72) and Delta's Keanu Phillips (72). 

In all, there are 22 golfers within six shots of the lead heading into Round 2 so the individual title is completely up for grabs.

Day 2 of the 3C2A Men's Golf State Championships will take place on Monday at SilverRock Resort, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Courtesy of Tony Altobelli, CCCSIA