RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – The No. 6 University of La Verne golf team flexed its championship muscles as it surged past the competition at the SCIAC No. 2, winning the tournament with a two-round total score of 568. Junior Kelby Scharmann claimed the medalist honors with a two-day score of 138, firing a first-round low of 65 on the first day.

With the win, La Verne moves into first-place on the overall SCIAC leaderboard and controls its own destiny in its quest for the eighth straight conference title heading into the SCIAC Championship Tournament. The Leopards made up a staggering 34-shot difference against No. 1 Redlands, who had run away with SCIAC No. 1 in February. The Bulldogs shot a total of 602 to settle for fourth place.

"We battled back and put ourselves into a position where we control our own destiny heading into the last conference event of the year and we couldn't ask for anything more considering our start," La Verne head coach Chris Davis said.

La Verne got off to a red-hot start. In the play-six, score-four format, three Leopards shot under-par and the fourth scorer Keven Holliday scored an even-par 72 in the first round. Behind the low-scorer Scharmann, Andre Bedard and Paul Gomez each carded a two-under 70 on the first day.

"The course was there for the taking and we did exactly that [in the first round]," Davis said. "It all came together as a team and we were able to see our potential."

The conditions were tougher on Sunday, but Holliday still managed book a round of 70 to lead the field, freshman Alec Spencer roared back from a slow start (78) to turn in a 72 and Scharmann finished with a one-over 73 in round two. Holiiday finished in fourth place overall at two-under 142.

"The course was more difficult and the wind was up on Sunday, but we battled through and were able to put up some good scores that extended our lead over the weekend," Davis added.

All six Leopards finished in the top 20. Bedard came into the clubhouse tied for 6^th with a three-over 147 (70-77). Gomez (70-80=150) and Spencer (78-72=150) finished tied for 11^th, and Michael Bonicatto shot a 154 (78-76) to come in 20^th.

"I'm very proud of our guys for their commitment to the next shot, and the process that will bring us success," Davis said.

CMS (281-298=579) finished 11 strokes behind the Leopards to take second and Cal Lutheran (289-307=596) followed at third.

La Verne will travel to the Baldy View Shootout hosted by CMS at Upland Hills Country Club on Saturday before heading to the SCIAC Championships at the Oak Valley Golf Club on April 27-29.