Glendale Community College Women’s Golf Preview: Vaqueros ready to begin new chapter
With Derrick Williams about to start his first season as coach of the Glendale Community College women’s golf team, he’s got a goal to try to return the Vaqueros back to prominence.
Williams served as an assistant under previous coach Natalie Guidry last season before succeeding Guidry, who resigned following three seasons.
Williams and the Vaqueros are ready to try to get back on track after they were unable to field a full lineup the last three seasons.
“It’s just about trying to build the program,” said Williams, a former player at Cleveland State and Michigan State who was hired in May. “We want to keep finding ways to improve the program and that’s got to start with me recruiting. Since I was hired late, there wasn’t any time to recruit for this season. We have some people back and we’ll try to get them to qualify for the playoffs individually.”
Glendale won its last conference championship in 2012. The Vaqueros had two runner-up finishes at the California Community College Athletic Assn. State Championship in 2011 and 2012.
Williams, who is an assistant professional at Valencia Country Club in the Santa Clarita Valley and an instructor at Glendale’s Scholl Canyon Golf Course, is the program’s fourth coach.
Glendale will begin its season Sunday in the South Coast Tournament and then take part in a Western State Conference match Monday at Buenaventura Golf Course in Ventura.
The Vaqueros will return Ana Salvo, Eyna Alan and Kinsey Hartong-Redden. Williams will look to find two more players to fill out the lineup.
“The goal for Ana will be to try to make the playoffs and she’s been doing well at practice,” Williams said. “Eyna got better over the summer and we also have high expectations for her.
“It’s a week-to-week with improving. We’ve been working on course strategy and management and what they need to do in certain situations. They’ve also been working on swinging and chipping.”
Williams expects the conference to be among the best in the state. Santa Barbara captured the state title last season after winning it in 2013. College of the Canyons and Citrus also figure to have quality teams.
“It’s a great conference and a pleasure to be in it,” said Williams, who graduated from Michigan State in 2011. “You get the chance to go up against some top teams. The better the conference is, the better chance you have to recruit good players.”
Glendale will take part in seven conference matches and will host Oct. 17 at a site to be determined. The conference final will be held Oct. 30-31 at Crystalaire Country Club in Llano.
