Alaan, Oh lead way in Pacific League golf match
PASADENA — Elis Alaan is adjusting quite well to competing in the Pacific League for the first time.
The Glendale High senior golfer has held her own while rubbing elbows with some of the league’s top athletes.
After finishing first in the season’s first league match, Alaan turned in another quality effort Wednesday at Brookside Golf Course No. 1.
Alaan, who is on the school’s boys’ team as well, carded a four-over-par 41 to tie for third with La Cañada’s Rachel Oh. Arcadia’s Kate Villegas finished first with a 38 and teammate Tiffany Lo carded a 39.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to go out there and do what I’m capable of,” said Alaan, who finished with a two-over-par 39 at Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima on Sept. 6. “Ultimately, I’d like to get a top-three finish in league and go on to the CIF tournament.
“Things have been going well so far and my approach shots were better. It all comes down to putting.”
Arcadia won the event with a 209, followed by La Cañada (232), Burroughs (241), Crescenta Valley (249) and Burbank (267).
Oh, a senior, also turned in an impressive effort.
“I thought my putting was pretty good and I know there are some things I need to work on,” Oh said. “I used my three-wood and that helped me out.
“I like this course a little bit better than La Cañada Country Club. It’s a bit more shorter.”
The Spartans received a 43 from Maddie Kang, a 45 from Christina Oh, 50 from Sarah Paek and a 53 from Delaney Choi.
Burroughs was led by Gabija Petrulis, who fired a 44. The Indians got a 48 from Annie Adachi, 49 from Malia Suarez and 50s from Abbie Riggs and Jocelyn Kim.
“We lost a lot of key players to graduation, but we do have some seniors who have some experience,” Adachi said. “We are sort of rebuilding, but there’s a lot of potential.”
Crescenta Valley got a 45 from Cathlyn Junio, 46s from Vienna Bebla and Michaela Labellarte, 51 from Eliana Kim and a 61 from Lynna Chung.
“We’re still pretty young,” Crescenta Valley coach Grant Clark said. “We do have a few juniors, but they are capable of doing well.
“Can you recover mentally after a bad shot? It’s just about being able to fine tune some things and iron out the kinks on certain shots.”
Amy Tran of Burbank paced the Bulldogs with a 44, followed by Olga-Marie Davis with a 49 and Madison Lee with a 53. The Bulldogs got a 60 from Kara Lee and a 61 from Regina Ramos.
“I feel like I did better today, even though I messed up on a couple of holes,” Tran said. “My putting worked well.
“The competition in our league is good. There are so many good players in league.”
The next league match will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at De Bell Golf Club in Burbank.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
