JAMUL, Calif. — Victor Valley’s Brady McColm fired the lone under-par round of the day, posting a 1-under 70 to earn medalist honors at a conference event held at Steele Canyon Golf Club, a 27-hole championship course designed by golf legend Gary Player.
Steele Canyon, a 4 1⁄2-star Golf Digest honoree and one of Southern California’s top public layouts, challenged the field with its dramatic elevation changes and natural contours across the Canyon, Ranch, and Vineyard nines.
McColm handled the conditions better than anyone, edging a tightly packed group of four players who finished at 1-over 72. Four players shared second place at 72 (+1): Aaron Duran from Mount. San Antonio, Cuyamaca’s Ethan Keusch, Braxton McDonald of College of the Desert, and Orange Coast College’s Brenden Barker, all finishing just two shots back in a tightly packed leaderboard.
MSJC endured a difficult afternoon, unable to gain momentum on a course known for punishing missed targets. The Eagles were led by Mac Brigham, who carded an 80 (+9).
MSJC Scores
Mac Brigham — 80 (+9)
Akoni Johnston — 83 (+12)
Shane Agundez — 84 (+13)
Jaycob Aylward — 85 (+14)
Ethan DelaHoya — 85 (+14)
Anthony Saavedra — 96 (+25)
While MSJC did not place near the top of the leaderboard, the group showed flashes of consistency and continued development across the lineup, with several golfers managing stretches of steady play under tournament pressure.
When asked about the struggles his team faced, the MSJC Head Coach, Ron Bingham, didn’t shy away from honesty.
“I think they are trying to always hit the perfect shot instead of playing for their misses and keeping the big numbers off their cards. That causes a snowball effect—more pressing, and then higher scores.”
Despite the rough outing, the coach remains optimistic about what lies ahead:
“Next week in golf will always be better: a new day, a new course, and a little more tournament experience. I think next week will be their best week of the year.”
The Eagles will return to action with a fresh slate and a chance to translate their potential into lower scores. With additional experience now under their belts and clear adjustments to focus on, MSJC aims to deliver its strongest performance yet as the season continues.
