National dream fades for SSU

It hasn't been the greatest three rounds for the Sonoma State men's golf team at the NCAA Division II national championship at Houston.

The Seawolves rank 18th out of 20 teams after Friday's third of four rounds.

The University of West Florida leads the tournament by four strokes after a third round 276 and 54-hole total of 843. The Argonauts, shot their second consecutive round under par as a team and the round was eight shots better than any other team on Friday. As a team, West Florida is three over par.

Georgia College is second at four strokes back, and North Alabama and Indianapolis are tied for third, 12 strokes behind West Florida.

Sonoma State is 39 shots over par at 879.

Kyle Scott of West Florida shot a 70 and has a three-round total of 207. Matthew Galloway of West Florida and Jeff Goff of South Carolina-Aiken are a shot back at 208.

The top golfer for SSU is Jarin Todd, tied for 19th at 213. His three rounds are 69, 72, 72. He's six shots behind the leader.

Next for SSU is Patrick Bauer at 220.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

Brett Pawlan cleared the bases with a first-inning triple to lead Petaluma past Sonoma, 7-3, in the Sonoma County League Tournament championship game last night at Arnold Field. Petaluma scored five times in the first.

Petaluma starter John Nadale tossed a four-hitter, striking out eight. The left-hander threw first pitch strikes consistently and showed an effective fastball and curve.

Pawlan also doubled and had four RBIs. Jake Burnett and Nick Sweeney had two hits apiece for Petaluma.

The Trojans, who defeated Casa Grande and Sonoma to win the tournament, won 3-of-4 games against the Dragons. Sonoma (21-4) has the best record among Empire large-schools.

Petaluma (19-7) finished tied for second with Casa Grande in the SCL regular season.

Sonoma won the SCL championship and had already locked up an automatic berth for next week's North Coast Section 3A playoffs.