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GCC women’s golf captures second place at state championships

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TEMECULA — -- This time, there wasn’t nearly as much pain.

Finishing second in state for the second season in a row didn’t sting nearly as bad this year for the members of the Glendale Community College women’s golf team.

The Vaqueros entered the season with a plethora of goals, including a return to the California Community College Athletic Assn. Women’s Golf Championship after falling by one stroke on the final hole at last season’s event.

This season, the Vaqueros were satisfied with a second-place finish.

“The fact that we made it back this year vindicates what happened last year,” said Glendale college Coach Greg Osbourne, who saw the Vaqueros finish the two-day event with a 660 at Temecula Creek Inn Resort on Tuesday. “We needed to get back here as a team and we did that.

“I’m so proud of my team and I can’t express it enough. Our team is the only one to get this far the last two seasons. You’d like to win it all, but it’s a tribute to do what we’ve been able to do.”

Irvine Valley shot a 310 on Tuesday and finished with a 628 en route to winning the state championship for the second time in the last three seasons. Glendale finished with a 330 on Tuesday. Cañada had a 333 to finish third at 673, followed by San Joaquin Delta with a 346 for 689.

“All the credit goes to Irvine because they have a superior team,” said Osbourne, whose team trailed by 12 strokes entering Tuesday’s round. “I thought we had a shot coming into the last round.

“Our players gutted it out the whole way.”

Glendale sophomore Pattraporn Silawanna earned All-American status for the second straight season after shooting a five-over-par 77 on Tuesday to finish third at 154. Silawanna, who helped the Vaqueros repeat as Western State Conference champions and place second in the Southern California Regionals, tied with College of the Canyons’ Kristin Grimes, but Silawanna finished third in a card-off by virtue of shooting a stroke better than Grimes on the back nine during Tuesday’s round. Grimes won the state’s individual championship last season.

Taylor Crandall of Palomar shot a 70 on Tuesday to finish at 148 to win the state’s individual title. Kate Cho of Irvine was second at 151. Also earning All-American status were Riley Sexton of Sacramento City College and Irvine’s Sally Kim with 156s.

Silawanna, who parred the final two holes, said she was pleased to receive All-American accolades again.

“It was a goal of mine coming into the season and I’m happy I could do it again,” said Silawanna, who won the conference’s individual crown for the second season in a row. “It means a lot to do it again.

“The course conditions weren’t that bad. My putting was a little off and I tried to save par. It’s good for the team to get back to state, and I think we had a successful season.”

Osbourne was impressed with Silawanna’s effort.

“She came back on then last two holes after encountering some trouble,” said Osbourne, who was named the conference’s coach of the year. “I’m happy she could get All-American again.

“We’ve been so lucky to have her these last two years, and I already miss her. Thank God I’ve had the experience to have been able to have coached her.”

Glendale received an 84 from sophomore Vicanda Ma on Tuesday for a two-round tally of 169 to tie for 15th. Sophomore Thanawan Sriratchaya had an 80 for a two-round tally of 160 for the Vaqueros, who also got an 89 (177) from freshman Fanny Ostlund.

Ma said there wasn’t any bitterness finishing second in state.

“You wish you could have done better, but this one is easier to take after being so close last time,” Ma said. “It’s been another great experience to get this far, and we have a great team.”

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