Taft College men’s golf wraps up season at NorCal Championship

Taft College closed out its 2026 men's golf season Sunday and Monday at the NorCal Championship, with sophomore Brady Shipley and freshman Amar DaVille turning in the Cougars' top performances on the Bayonet Course in Monterey.

Shipley led Taft over the two-day event, opening with an 84 on Sunday before trimming two strokes off his score with an 82 in Monday's final round. His improvement came despite difficult conditions, as the closing round was played in high winds. DaVille delivered his best two-day outing of the season, carding rounds of 85 and 88 to give the Cougars another steady finish in the championship field.

The NorCal Championship marked the end of the season for Taft, which battled through a demanding postseason setting at one of Northern California's well-known layouts. Bayonet Golf Course, combined with clear skies and cool temperatures in the low-to-mid 60s, presented a firm test over the weekend, and Monday's wind added another layer of difficulty for the field.

"The course was very hard, and some of the best golfers in the BIG 8 Conference shot well over their averages," Taft Head Coach Dan Walters said. "Although we did not qualify any golfers for the state tournament, I am proud of the improvement of the team as a whole. Brady improved on the second day to put himself in position to qualify for state and missed out by just a couple of strokes."
Shipley's second-round 82 stood as Taft's low round of the tournament and highlighted the sophomore's ability to adjust from the opening day to the finish. DaVille's two consistent rounds also provided an encouraging note for the Cougars, particularly with the freshman producing his strongest 36-hole performance of the year at the final event of the schedule.

While full team totals and individual championship placings were not available, Taft's top returners gave the Cougars a solid closing effort in Monterey. With Shipley finishing his sophomore campaign on the team lead and DaVille ending his freshman season with a personal best two-day result, the weekend offered a measured finish to the Cougars' 2026 season.