Saddleback wins Orange Empire Conference women's golf title again
The Saddleback College women's golf team captured the Orange Empire Conference title this week with a two-day, 36-hole team total of 679. It marked the second consecutive season that the Gauchos have taken the conference title and the first time they've captured back-to-back titles since the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
CHINO HILLS, Calif. - The Saddleback College women's golf team captured the Orange Empire Conference title this week with a two-day, 36-hole team total of 679. It marked the second consecutive season that the Gauchos have taken the conference title and the first time they've captured back-to-back titles since the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Irvine Valley finished second at the conference championship with a team score of 696 while Fullerton made up a 16-stroke deficit from the first day to edge out Mt. San Antonio for third place (741 to 743).
Saddleback freshman Brittney Do earned medalist honors at the championship tournament with a two-day total of 157 (77-80). She finished the conference schedule with the lowest overall average (77.1) and earned the conference's Player of the Year honor. Vera Yuan of Irvine Valley posted rounds of 83 and 78 to finish second at the conference championship with a score of 161 while Kaylee Jeon of Fullerton was a stroke back at 162 (82-80).
Saddleback finished with 31 conference wins and was assisted by steady play from Deanna Pagaduan (88-83), Tannaz Khazeni (87-88), and Brooke Yafckli (86-90) at the conference championship. All three would earn all-conference recognition. Irvine Valley's Kylie Sok (81-84) would end up with the second-best scoring average in the conference (78.7) while Akie Sonnomiya helped the Lasers' cause with rounds of 91 and 85.
Fullerton and Mt. San Antonio were tied for third in the team standings heading into the conference championship but the Hornets edged past the Mounties on the final day as Gwen Bates (93-90) and Alex Rooney (97-91) provided enough support. Mackenzie Kelly of Mt. San Antonio (79-87) led the Mounties while Brianna Pulido (88-88) and Ryanne Broughton (85-95) were also in the mix. It came down to the score of the fourth golfer on each team and Lili Manurung of Fullerton held the advantage.
Saddleback, Irvine Valley, and Fullerton will see their entire teams advance to the CCCAA South Region Championship being played at the Temecula Creek course this Sunday and Monday. Mt. San Antonio will have Kelly, Pulido, and Broughton playing as individuals.
(Courtesy Jerry Hannula, Saddleback College)