No local girls’ golf teams able to advance in CIF

CHINO HILLS — Expectations varied among the four area high school girls’ golf teams which competed in the CIF Southern Section Central Team Divisional on Monday at Los Serranos Country Club’s North Course.

After finishing among the top three in their respective leagues, Crescenta Valley, La Cañada, South Pasadena and Westridge took to the venue in windy conditions and came away gaining valuable experience.

While none of them advanced to the team final, the four squads left satisfied with what they accomplished.

“I’m happy with what we were able to do,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Lee Pope, whose team finished sixth with a 439 and received a three-over-par 77 from Audrey Chung. “We had two freshmen in our lineup this year and we got a lot done here.

“If we had a couple of more people who could have shot in the 80s, then we would have been right there. We expect to get back here again next year. I’m extremely happy with what Audrey did. She played a great round.”

Chung said she’s been peaking since the end of the regular season.

“I felt like I went out there and was hitting the ball pretty consistently,” said Chung, who helped the Falcons split the Pacific league title with Arcadia. “I thought my putting saved me a couple of times.

“My short game has been getting better lately.”

South Pasadena finished 10th in the 22-team tournament with a 475, La Cañada tied for 15th with Quartz Hill with a 486 and Westridge tied with Sage Hill for 16th with a 493.

Palos Verdes won the tournament with a 393, followed by Mira Costa (403), North Torrance (411) and Torrance (418). Palos Verdes, Mira Costa, North Torrance and Torrance will next compete in the team final, which will be held Monday at The Legends Golf Course in Temecula.

Arcadia took fifth (426), South Torrance was seventh (452), West Ranch and Highland tied for eighth (460), Redondo Union finished 11th (477), Ayala was 12th (482), Hart took 13th (482), Redlands East Valley placed 14th (484), Golden Valley was 18th (496), St. Margaret’s took 20 (501, followed by Gabrielino (21st, 516) and Loara (22nd, 581).

Annie Cheng of Torrance and Palos Verdes’ Elizabeth Doty shared medalist honors with 69s.

South Pasadena Coach Richard Goto, who led the Tigers to a first-place finish in the Montview League, said his team made strides Monday.

“You are going up against a lot of schools and who have excellent golfers,” said Goto, who received an 81 from Katie Rosenberg. “We had a young team coming into the season and we got far.

“I want them to take these experiences of playing against these good players and learn from it.”

La Cañada, which took third in the Pacific League and made its first trip to the playoffs in two years, got an 85 from Melissa Leo.

La Cañada Coach Rich Wheeler said the Spartans met their season-long expectations.

“It’s awesome to get this far and play at a whole different level,” Wheeler said. “We had three players who have never experienced what it’s like to be in the playoffs.

“We went far and now we are here and wanting to be able to come back next year even stronger.”

Westridge, which took second in the Montview League under the guidance of Coach Nick Del Pozo, got a top score of 86 from Neve James.

It marked the first time the Tigers appeared in the playoffs.

“We came in here with zero expectations, other than to get a taste of what it’s like to be in the playoffs,” Del Pozo said. “It’s mostly about getting exposure playing against these teams and seeing what we could actually get accomplished.

“I’m happy with what we were able to do.”

Crescenta Valley received a 79 from Jocelyn Chia, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Golfer of the Year. The Falcons also received a 92 from Alice Yoon, 94 from Andrea Han and a 97 from Deborah Chin.

La Cañada got an 88 from Keilee Bessho, 93 from Jennifer Kim, 108 from May Lo and 112 from Megan Lee.

Amy Chong finished with a 93 for South Pasadena, which got a 95 from Marcy Kuo, 99 from Megan Srisutham and 107 from Alyssa Carios.

Westridge got a 90 from Jackie Pai, 94 from Gabby Chan, 105 from Andrea Lin and 118 from Allegra Gutierrez.