No. 9 Story of the Year - Golfer Kylie Sok takes fifth in state

No. 9 Story of the Year - Golfer Kylie Sok takes fifth in state

In leading up to the official start of the 2018-19 athletics campaign at Irvine Valley, which starts on Aug. 25 with the IVC men's soccer team at Yavapai in Arizona, the Laser athletic department is counting down the top 10 IVC sports stories from the 2017-18 school year. 

The No. 9 story on the list was a Irvine Valley freshman golfer Kylie Sok turning in a stellar season in the fall of 2017. Sok placed fifth at the California Community College Athletic Association State Championship that wrapped up in mid-November at Morro Bay Golf Course. She earned all-state recognition. 

Sok posted a score of even par 72 on the first day of the event on Sunday and then finished with a 4-over-par 76 on Monday to end at 148. The top six finishers earned all-state recognition.

Sierra's Nao Bando, who tied for medalist honors last year but settled for the runner-up medal in a card-off, made a statement this season in posting a two-day score of 3-under-par 141 (71-70) to easily capture the medalist honor.

Hannah Lovering of Reedley also posted a 70 on Monday and finished tied with Santa Barbara City's Vanessa Watkins at 145 for the tournament, but took home the individual runner-up medal in a card-off covering the back nine holes.

Saddleback's Brittney Do was a first-day leader at 1-under-par 71 and added a 76 on Monday to finish fourth overall at 147.

Sok had a solid freshman year for the Lasers. She also finished third in the Orange Empire Conference and helped the Lasers take second in the conference and make the So. Cal. Regionals as a team.

Sok finished tied for second individually at the two-day Southern California Regionals at the Temecula Creek Inn Golf Resort.

She had a standout round of 2 over par 74 on the final day. Sok ended up with a score of 156 overall.

Sok was just four strokes behind medalist Kalyee Jeon from Fullerton (75-77), who came in at 152.

As a team, Irvine Valley just missed moving on to the state event.

Sok also placed second in conference scoring and was named first team all-OEC.