Taft College closes home schedule with season-low tie at Buena Vista

With it being Sophomore Day, Taft College capped its final home match of the 2026 season Monday by matching its season-low team score, finishing with a 320 in windy conditions at Buena Vista Golf Course.

The Cougars were paced by sophomores Brady Shipley and Ryker Scherer, who each carded rounds of 80 to lead the lineup against Big 8 Conference competition. Freshmen Nathaniel Estrada and Amar DaVille followed with matching 85s, giving Taft the four counting scores it needed to reach the 320 total.

The conditions were a central part of the story. Strong winds at Buena Vista made scoring difficult throughout the day, yet Taft still produced one of its steadiest team performances of the season. Matching a season-best number in the final home date gave the Cougars a solid benchmark as the schedule moves deeper into April.

Shipley and Scherer set the tone with the low rounds of the day for Taft, each finishing at 80 as the Cougars fought through the tougher stretches of the course. Estrada and DaVille added 85s, keeping the team score intact and helping Taft avoid the kind of big numbers that often surface in heavy wind. With all four scoring rounds clustered tightly, the Cougars showed balance across the lineup.

While hole-by-hole details were not available, Taft's ability to post four competitive rounds under difficult circumstances stood out in a home match that tested patience as much as execution. For a team closing out its home slate, the result provided a measurable step forward and a reminder of the group's depth, with sophomores and freshmen both contributing to the final total.

Taft returns to action April 20 at Fort Washington Country Club for a match hosted by Fresno City College.