It has been a rollercoaster of a season on the links for the Ventura College men's golf team.

The Pirates won the Glendale Invitational March 16 and finished second in the Southern California Invitational March 14. But they've also slumped to fifth- and sixth-place finishes in WSC play at Citrus March 28 and Santa Barbara City Feb. 21, respectively.

The top three of Andy Bennett, Brett Silvernail and Kevin Dann, who have combined to average a 76 in WSC play, have been strong.

But the Pirates have struggled for consistency at the bottom half of the lineup.

"It hasn't materialized," said Ventura coach Bob E. Smith. "I don't know what it is. They start second guessing themselves, they get a little negative and that puts more pressure on their entire golf game."

Coming off a third-place finish Monday at Elkins Ranch, Ventura (18-18), which sits in fourth place, remains hopeful of a postseason berth.

"That's progress," said Smith of Monday's performance, which included a 1-under 70 from medalist Andrew Garcia and a 78 from Vince Rodriguez. "I think they're going to peak at the right time."

One round from qualifying for the California Community College championships, the Ventura College men's golf team suffered through a season-spoiling afternoon in the 36-hole Southern California regionals at SGCA Golf Course in Murrieta.

Sophomore Paul Misko shot a 71 and 71 for a 2-under 142 to tie for the medal, but lost a cardoff to Riverside's Nick Paez for the regional championship.

"Everything inside 100 yards, I wasn't playing my best," said Misko. "That kind of killed me... But I was making a lot of pairs, not doing anything stupid, hitting the ball straight."

The Royal High product advances to the state tournament next week in Beaumont individually, but the moment was spoiled by the Pirates missing their team goal by six strokes.

With three 79s and an 80 in the second round, Ventura finished with a 41-over 761, six strokes behind fourth-place Cypress. The top four teams advanced to next week's championships.

"I've never been an individual player," said Misko. "It's just the fact that our team's not going ruins it."

Santa Barbara, which finished third in the Western State Conference behind Canyons and Ventura, won the regional title with a 744, followed by Orange Coast (749), Riverside (753) and Cypress (755).

After a strong morning, Ventura sat tied for third at 373, three shots behind leaders Santa Barbara. Jonathan Lum shot a 72, Chad Gillespie shot a 74 and Ryan Turner and Dan Dress both shot 78.

But everything evaporated in the afternoon.

"The wind started blowing and the scores started going sky high," said Ventura coach Bob E. Smith. "Everyone thought they had to shoot 72, but it turns out we just had to shoot 77. That means everyone just needed a shot here or there."

Misko, who said the wind blew between 25 and 40 miles per hour "non-stop," started the second round with a par and two bogeys before getting going with an eagle on the fourth hole.

"Paul played his heart out," said Smith. "Other than that, I don't know what to say."

Misko singled out freshman Andy Bennett, who finished the front half of the first round 3-under par.

"We had a good season," said Misko. "Not what we wanted to do, but that's how it goes. That's golf for you."

The Ventura College men's golf team may have let the chance to push for a conference title slip in recent weeks.

But there is plenty to play for today when the Pirates compete in the 36-hole Western State Conference championships at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo.

"Hopefully, we can go ahead and maybe not win the conference," said Ventura coach Bob E. Smith, "but win the state."

Ventura (35-13), which finished third in the state meet a year ago, has slipped 11 games behind runaway leader Canyons (46-2) in recent weeks, but the Pirates can advance to Southern California regionals as a team by protecting its six game lead over third-place Santa Barbara City (29-19) today.

"I'm somewhat concerned," said Smith, "but we look like we're pretty confident for that second spot.

"It all depends on how we play in the morning."

Sophomore Paul Misko enters the final 32 holes from the WSC individual championship.

The Royal High product is the conference's scoring leader, averaging 72.9 per round.

"The only thing I have to do (today) is go out and play my game," said Misko. "I won't put scores in my head, because then you're not thinking about your game.

"I can tell you, I've been practicing a lot."

The local course isn't expected to be a big advantage for the Pirates, who practice at Saticoy C.C. and Olivas Links.

"It's nice that they get to sleep in their own bed," Smith, "but it's not so much of an advantage for us because we don't practice at Spanish Hills."

Canyons is actually hosting the event. Every team was allotted one practice round.

SoCal regionals are May 10 at SCGA golf course in Murrieta and the state championships are May at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont.