Chico State golfer Dakota Ochoa finished his freshman season with a flurry of top-10 finishes, including a fourth-place showing at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)_ Championships. He's carrying that momentum over to his sophomore season, having opened the campaign with a top-10 showing last week at the Western Washington Invitational at Bellingham Golf and Country Club. He earned Wildcat of the Week honors in the process.
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Ochoa led the Wildcats to a sixth-place finish in the 17-team field by shooting 71-73-71 on the par-72, 6,610-yard layout. His score was second best among all CCAA competitors. He's shot 72 or lower in 13 of his last 19 rounds, dating back to early last spring. In 11 career collegiate events the product of Liberty High School in Bakersfield now boasts eight top-25 finishes, including four top 10s in his past five starts.
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The former high school quarterback managed his rounds well, consistently staying out of trouble. He posted 39 pars, eight birdies, and only seven bogeys over three rounds of work. He also played the par-5s fabulously, shooting 4-under par.
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Ochoa and the Wildcats will be back in action next Monday and Tuesday when they host the Wildcat Classic at Peach Tree Golf and Country Club in Marysville. The action gets under way Monday with a 36-hole shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. The 10-team field (featuring 66 players in all) will wrap up play with a single round Tuesday beginning with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
