OCC men’s golf preview: Pirates aiming for the flags

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - With tough competition in the Orange Empire

Conference, the Orange Coast College men’s golf team will definitely have

its hands full, but for Coach Barry Wallace, anything’s possible.

“As long as we play our style of golf, we’ll be in the hunt,” the

third-year coach said. “We have 10 teams in our conference and from the

standpoint of who’s to beat, I think Santa Ana and Saddleback are among

the cream of the crop.”

Leading Pirates’ golfers will be freshman Erik Herbert, someone that

Wallace thinks could rank among the conference’s best.

“He’s been playing No. 1 for us for most of the season,” Wallace said.

“He’s been solid all year and I’m expecting big things from him. He has

the ability to be one of the best in the OEC.”

Another key player for the Pirates will be sophomore Timo Sakkinan. He

played for the Pirates two years ago and was a No. 1 qualifier for the

conference finals.

The captain of the Pirates’ squad will be sophomore Eric Hird. “He’s a

very steady player with a ton of experience,” Wallace said.

With Hird and Sakkinan the only two sophomores on the squad, Freshmen

Kyle Wicks and Brian Winston will also be called upon to produce right

away.

The twosome led the Pirates at Wednesday’s contest with Golden West,

Palomar and Santiago Canyon, each firing a five-over-par, 77, at Western

Hills.

One of the pluses on Wallace’s team is the depth of the group.

“We only have six players playing at each event and there’s eight of our

guys that could play from No. 1-6 out there,” Wallace said. “Our job is

to pick the right six who are playing the best at that particular time.”

Despite the freshman-heavy squad, Wallace likes his chances with his

group.

“We have the talent out there,” Wallace said. “It’s just a matter of

hitting the clutch shots when it counts.”

COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE MEN’S GOLF

Michael Akahoshi Fr.

Ron Galmarini Fr.

Erik Herbert Fr.

Eric Hird So.

Ken Kato Fr.

Bryan McKnight Fr.

Brock Noteboom Fr.

Timo Sakkinan So.

Kyle Wicks Fr.

Brian Winston Fr.

Coach: Barry Wallace