The 2025 Ventura College men’s golf team has been named as the California Community College Athletic Association State Scholar Team for the 2024-25 academic year in a release by the 3C2A this week. This is the first State Scholar Team award for the golf team and the VC Athletic Department’s 44th award overall since the program’s inception in 1997-98. Ventura has been awarded at least one state team academic award in 24 of the past 25 non-covid academic years.
The golf team posted an overall team Grade Point Average of 3.53. Five of the nine players on the roster were named on the Dean’s List for the spring semester, posting a 3.5 or better GPA including Daniel Darwin, Nathan Schultz, Logan Gonzalez, Stephen Ong and Jimmy Darwin.
On the course, the Pirates placed fifth in the state in 2025, their best finish as a team since 2017 and the program’s 12th appearance in the state championships since 1969. They also came in fifth in the Southern California Regionals and placed second in the Western State Conference. Brandon Flores, Ian Chapital, Gonzalez and Nick Bublitz each earned All-WSC honors for the Pirates.
“This distinction is especially meaningful, as it recognizes the collective academic achievement of an entire team,” wrote 3C2A Executive Director Jennifer A. Cardone.
“It represents a standard of excellence to which all our teams should aspire, and one of which you and your student-athletes should be extremely proud.”
The team’s accomplishments will be acknowledged at the 3C2A Scholar-Athlete Luncheon on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at the annual 3C2A Convention in Burbank.
The State Scholar Team Award is the highest academic team achievement given annually by the 3C2A. All team members must have excelled academically with the team achieving a total GPA of 3.0 or higher to be nominated. The team should also have demonstrated better than average accomplishments in intercollegiate athletic competition.
Since the inception of the State Scholar Team program, Ventura College leads all schools across the state in recognition for academic excellence. The Pirates have now won 44 State Scholar Team Awards, with Western State College rival Cuesta second at 39. Moorpark is third with 35 while Orange Coast has won 32 State Scholar Team awards. Santa Barbara and Saddleback have 30 and 26, respectively.
