Led by team captain Adam Ruppert's 2 under par score of 69 the Irvine Valley men's golf team defeated Saddleback, Santiago Canyon and Cuyamaca at Oak Creek on Wednesday.

It was Irvine Valley's first home Orange Empire Conference match.

The IVC team score of 378 defeated crosstown rival Saddleback by 27 strokes and Cuyamaca by 14 strokes. 

Irvine Valley and Santiago Canyon tied with scores of 378. Dane Thomas' throwout sixth man score of 83 bested Santiago Canyon's score of 86, shot by their top golfer Connor Covington.

Irvine Valley improved its record to 3-2 in conference.

"In our two conference road losses, we played well and posted the second best team scores," Coach Ben Burnett said. "However, when playing on the road, any score other than the best score, gives your team a loss.
"The team is quietly pleased with getting back into the conference race with these three victories. We had great team chemistry. These young men are coachable and they encourage each other."

Ruppert paced Irvine Valley with five birdies, 10 pars and three bogeys for a 2 under par 69.

Daniel Neben's 75 ended with a difficult chipshot birdie on hole 18. His round included two birdies, 11 pars, four bogeys and one double bogey.

Joe Chun birdied 17 and 18 for a score of 76. His round included three birdies, seven pars and eight bogeys.

Sylvain Debiais played the final nine holes with a very steady eight pars and one bogey. His round of 76 included one birdie, 11 pars and six bogeys.

Joey Fuscardo had 13 pars, two bogeys and three triple bogeys, for an 82.

Thomas scored an 83 two birdies, seven pars, five bogeys, three double bogeys and one triple bogey.

Next Wednesday Irvine Valley travels to the San Diego area for a conference match hosted by Cuyamaca at the Cottonwood Golf Club.

TEAM SCORES
IVC 378 (wins on tiebreaker over SCC)
SANTIAGO CANYON 378
CUYAMACA 392
SADDLEBACK 405