OCC golfer forced to transfer

Marcus Sostak-Rosa, a former Estancia High standout, planned to be the No. 1 player on the Orange Coast College men’s golf team and in the Orange Empire Conference this spring.

The only problem is he isn’t eligible to play at OCC anymore.

“I didn’t find out until the end of summer, so I didn’t really have too many options open,” he said.

Sostak-Rosa, the No. 3 ranked golfer according to the SoCal community colleges rankings last season, was told by Orange Coast Coach Sean Collins that the brief time he spent on the University of Oregon’s golf team counts against on his college playing eligibility.

Since he played last season for Collins, that is two years on Sostak-Rosa’s playing eligibility, which makes him ineligible to play at Orange Coast one more year.

With the fall semester starting soon at other colleges, Sostak-Rosa said Collins suggested his alma mater, Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Since he didn’t have many options available with the last-minute news, Sostak-Rosa decided to attend Dominguez Hills.

“Coach played there, he knows quite a bit of people there and it just worked out,” Sostak-Rosa said.

However, Sostak-Rosa still needs to complete 18 units to play on Dominguez Hills’ golf team. Currently he is taking 12 units at OCC and six more at Dominguez Hills.

But Collins said his experiences at OCC will carry over as he transfers.

“You know, [Orange Coast’s] had an interesting effect on Marcus,” he said. “He learned to appreciate golf more through the values he learned in the classrooms. It’s carried over to his golf game and it shows.”

If he also completes 18 units, he will be joined by his OCC teammate Ryan Indovina, who transferred to Dominguez Hills this year.

“I think it’ll be nice to have someone pushing me,” Sostak-Rosa said of potentially playing with his former teammate. “He’s just like me. He doesn’t like to lose. He’s going to try his hardest and I think we can be pretty solid.”

Indovina echoed his view.

“Marcus brings a quiet confidence to the team,” he said. “He’s not very outspoken, but does his thing.”

Sostak-Rosa had a 72.8 scoring average last season and was tied for 18th at the state championships, where he missed the cut by just one stroke.

Sostak-Rosa added he hasn’t met Dominguez Hills Coach Dr. John Johnson, but can’t wait to starting practicing with the team.

“I haven’t met him yet but I heard some good stories,” Sostak-Rosa said. “He used to be a USC football coach. He doesn’t seem too strict so I’m hopefully going to do my thing.”