Cougars Three-Peat at State Championships, Nilson Wins Individual Title

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director 

LA QUINTA — College of the Canyons used a late surge across the final six holes to overcome an 11-shot deficit and claim a third straight state title during day two action of the 3C2A State Championship tournament at SilverRock Resort on Monday.

Canyons has now won a record 13 state championships (1993, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026) including four across the last five seasons.

The Cougars also won a 15th straight Western State Conference (WSC) title and finished runner-up at the 3C2A Southern California Regional Championships as part of its run to back-to-back-to-back state titles.

The Cougars began Monday's day two round of the 36-hole tourney in third place, six shots back of tourney host College of the Desert, with Victor Valley College in third place one shot ahead of COC.

With just six holes remaining, Canyons trailed Desert by 11 shots. The Cougars then rallied to shoot seven-under-par across the final six holes — and were a combined four-under-par on the 18th hole — to propel themselves into the championship position once again.

COC posted a four-man, two-day score of 581(294/287) to finish three strokes ahead of runner-up Desert (584-288/296). Reedley College at 590 (299/291) was third in the field of nine teams.

"I always talk to my guys about the last six holes," COC head coach Gary Peterson said following Monday's exciting finale. "I often don't think they believe me, but I think from now on, they're going to remember the importance of the last six holes. 

"It was pretty amazing," added Peterson. "That's what makes this event great. Golf is an individual sport, but this is a team. And, they wouldn't have won this without being a team."

COC sophomore Anthony Nilson (138-69/69) brought home an individual 3C2A State Championship for the Cougars' trophy case, concluding a season in which he was also named Western State Conference (WSC) Player of the Year after winning an individual conference title. 

Nilson carded four birdies over the final five holes, including the 18th, to help lead Canyons into the winner's circle. He was named to the six-member 3C2A All-State team where he was joined by teammate Arnaud Bouhaniche in receiving All-State honors.

The individual state title is the fifth in men's golf program history joining Sidney Wolf (2014), Ben Campbell (2016), Nobuhiko Wakaari (2019) and Carson Diaz (2025).

Bouhaniche (147-80/67) finished sixth in the field after a strong finish that included a birdie on the 17th hole and an eagle on 18 to finish at 67 for the day. That score represented the lowest of the tourney and was a 13-stroke turnaround from his opening round total of 80.

Canyons freshman Jack Franklin narrowly missed the top-10 with his two-day total of 148 (75/73) which placed him 11th in the field of nearly 70 players after a series of tiebreakers. He birdied the final hole to finish one-over on the day.

COC sophomore Ed Beehag (154-76/78) tied for 31st with freshman Kai Willen (155-74/81) finishing in a tie for 34th. Sophomore Jacques Struyf (159-79/80) slotted into a three-way tie for 42nd.

Beehag, Struyf and Nilson were also members of the Cougars' 2025 3C2A State Championship team from a season ago.

COC was competing at the state tourney for the 28th time in program history under Peterson's leadership.

Full results from the 3C2A State Championship tournament are included here.

TEAM SCORES
1. Canyons (581-294/297) 2. Desert (584-288/296) 3. Reedley (590-299/291) 4. Victor Valley (605-293/312) 5. Sierra (607-297/310) 6. Ventura (612-309/303) 7. Napa Valley (618-309/309) 8. Orange Coast (621-309/312) 9. San Joaquin Delta (622-305/317)

CANYONS INDIVIDUAL SCORES 
Anthony Nilson (138-69/69 – State Champion); Arnaud Bouhaniche (147-80/67 – 6th); Jack Franklin (148-75/73 – 11th); Ed Beehag (154-76/78 – T31st); Kai Willen (155-74/81-T34rd); Jacques Struyf (159-79/80-T42nd)

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.  

—Photo by Freddy Ponce/3C2A