Burroughs girls’ golf pair advances past Pacific League finals
For the first time in five years, a pair of Burroughs High girls’ golfers earned advancement to the CIF Southern Section Individual playoffs.
Indians seniors Maddie Riggs and Ashley Phelps finished seventh and eighth in league, respectively, and tied for fifth on the day at Tuesday’s Pacific League Individual Finals at the par-72 River Ridge Golf Club Vineyard Course.
Riggs and Phelps nabbed the last two spots to the Southern Section Northern Individual Regional Tournament.
“It’s a great finish for the girls,” Burroughs Coach Greg Everhart said. “This is a tough league and to break into the top eight, to get to CIF with two players, it’s a real nice honor.”
Riggs and Phelps each carded a nine-over 81, which was good for a tie for fifth on an afternoon in which San Marino’s Elizabeth Wang won with a spectacular six-under 66. Unfortunately for Wang, she missed two league matches and didn’t tally enough overall points (175.5) to claim the league championship, which was awarded to fellow Titan Ada Wong (203).
Arcadia’s Katie Villegas finished second with 193.5 points, while teammate Gabby Lewis took third (177.5).
Tuesday’s league finals were worth triple points, which fetched Riggs and Phelps 19.5 points each and helped Riggs finish with 169 points for seventh overall in league and Phelps tally 166 points for eighth.
Riggs and Phelps entered Tuesday’s finals sixth and seventh, respectively in league and only surrendered a spot to the amazing Wang, who moved from eighth to fourth.
Both Indians also finished well ahead of Arcadia’s Jannell Lo, who placed ninth with 147 points.
Riggs and Phelps are the first Burroughs teammates to qualify to CIF Individual play since Joany Gao and Ravipa Losakul completed the feat in 2011. Both are also the only two area players from the Pacific League to advance to the individual playoffs.
Tuesday’s result comes a year after Phelps finished a stroke out of contention for the league’s final playoff spot and took 10th.
“This is redemption for Ashley,” Everhart said. “This was her goal from the beginning of her season, to get here and have a chance at CIF.
“For Maddie, I couldn’t be prouder. Maddie had a great season last year, but struggled in league matches. This year, she finished with the best of them.”
While reaching the Northern Individual Regional Tournament equals a new frontier for Riggs and Phelps, both will have at least an idea of what to expect.
The tournament will be taking place back at River Ridge’s Vineyard Course on Monday, Oct. 24 with the top 36 players earning a spot to the SCGA Qualifying Tournament/CIF-SS Individual Finals on Nov. 3. at the Western Hills Golf Club in Chino Hills.
“I think this was the best way to set it up for individual finals as far as the success our of league goes,” Everhart said. “Why not play the course they’re going to be playing with the same amount of pressure as they’ll have at CIF?
“Now the cut last year for CIF was a 75, so the girls know they’ll have to play better than they did today. It’s great to have that experience.”
--
Andrew J. Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com
Twitter: @campadresports
