Phelps, Tran pave way for area squads at first Pacific League girls’ golf match
ALHAMBRA — Ashley Phelps and Amy Tran registered very good seasons last year en route to All-Area accolades.
Phelps and Tran would like to have continued success this season for the Burroughs High and Burbank girls’ golf teams, respectively.
The duo got off to a good start Tuesday during the first Pacific League match of the season after recording two-over-par 38s at Almansor Golf Course.
Phelps paved the way for Burroughs, which finished third with a 208. Tran had the top score for Burbank, which took sixth with a 264 in the six-team event.
“I think we could have a great team, especially with four seniors back,” said Phelps, a senior who helped Burroughs finish third in league last season behind San Marino and Arcadia and advance to the CIF playoffs. “It’s a team with a lot of experience and we have a lot of players who are putting in a lot of time to make sure we do well again.
“This is a shorter course. I’d prefer faster greens and the greens were a little slow here. I just told myself not to give up on any shots and work through things.”
Tran, a junior, will be counted on to provide the Bulldogs with experience after they didn’t have enough players to field a complete lineup last season.
Tran answered the bell Tuesday.
“We’re going to try to do better than last year,” Tran said. “I’m just trying to be kind of a role model for my teammates.
“There are a lot of good teams in this league. I had a pretty good round, because I hit a lot of shots on to the greens.”
San Marino took first with a 183, followed by Arcadia at 188. Crescenta Valley finished fourth with a 225 and La Cañada was fifth with a 252 as it was without Maddie Kang, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Golfer of the Year who recently underwent minor hip surgery. Elizabeth Wang of San Marino finished first with a 32.
Burroughs received a 41 from Maddie Riggs and 43s from Annie Adachi, Gabija Peturlis and Raelinn Arnold, a reigning All-Area selection.
Crescenta Valley was led by junior Gloria Namkung, who fired a 39.
“My driver and chipping worked best,” Namkung said. “My putting was half-good.
“I just want to try to be a little more consistent.”
Emily Redecker posted a 41 for Crescenta Valley, which received a 47 from Michela Labellarte and 49s from Vienna Bebla and Ani Gharapetian.
La Cañada got a 46 from Lucille Park, 48 from Grace Mekikian,50 from Emma McGuinness , 52 from Emilee Herrmann and 56 from Sophie Champ.
Herrmann, a sophomore, had a hole in one on the par-three seventh hole.
“I wasn’t even thinking about a hole in one because I got off to a tough start,” said Herrmann, who recorded the first hole in one in her career. “I swung back and hit it and it rolled in.
“I didn’t believe it after one of the players in the group said it happened. It feels good.”
Burbank got a 45 from Olga-Marie Davis, a 53 from Pawee Akkharachotmongkhol and a 56 from Erin Tanner.
The next league match will start at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima.
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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich</p
