Taft College at Eagle Ridge ahead of postseason push

Taft College turned in one of the stronger individual rounds in a difficult scoring environment on March 23, with sophomore Brady Shipley carding an 83 at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Gilroy during a match hosted by San Jose City College.

The Cougars competed on a demanding layout where scores were elevated across the field, making Shipley's round stand out as Taft's top performance of the day. With no low numbers readily available from the rest of the event, the story of the round centered on managing a challenging course and limiting damage on holes that tested every team in attendance.

Eagle Ridge, known for its difficult conditions and penal stretches, produced the kind of day where consistency mattered as much as birdie chances. Taft's lineup battled through the course in clear skies and warm temperatures, facing a setup that, according to team notes, led to notably high scores from all participating teams. In that context, Shipley's 83 gave the Cougars a reliable score and an encouraging individual result.

The match was played in Gilroy as part of Taft's spring schedule, with the event hosted by San Jose City College. Conditions were favorable, with clear weather and temperatures reaching the mid-70s, but the course itself remained the main challenge. Rather than producing a shootout, the round became a test of patience, shot placement and recovery work around one of the tougher venues on the schedule.

For Taft, the round also served as another step in a larger buildup. As the Cougars head into Spring Break, the program is trying to carry momentum into the stretch run with the Northern California Championship approaching. The team's stated goal is to earn a spot in the state tournament, set for May 11-12 in La Quinta.

If the match round offered a preview of what will be required, it was this: steady play on difficult courses and a score like Shipley's that can anchor the lineup when conditions push numbers higher than usual. Taft now turns its attention to the post-break portion of the season, where every round will matter in the chase for postseason qualification.