One more step for Vaqueros
There have been some sleepless nights during the past year for Glendale Community College women’s golf Coach Greg Osbourne.
The Vaqueros appeared on the verge of winning the program’s first state championship, but fell short by one stroke on the final hole. While Osbourne has had a difficult time discarding the agonizing moment, he’s looking for a better outcome this season.
Glendale will be put to the test when it takes part in the four-team California Community College Athletic Assn. Women’s Golf Championship on Monday and Tuesday at Temecula Creek Golf Course in Temecula.
“I haven’t forgotten about what happened and neither have our returners,” said Osbourne, whose team advanced to the state tournament this season after rallying to place second in the Southern California Regionals at San Luis Rey Downs Country Club in Bonsall. “Now, we get another chance and I’m proud of my team for getting back here because it means a lot.
“They’ve got a taste of what it’s like from last year and we will see what we can do better to get the best result. We know that one shot can make all of the difference.”
Palomar College won the event last year. Glendale, which won the Western State Conference title for the second consecutive season, edged Palomar by one stroke at the Southern California Regionals this year.
Glendale will be joined by Irvine Valley College from Southern California and Canada and San Joaquin Delta from the Northern California Regional. The top 12 individuals from each regional will also take part in the state tournament.
The Vaqueros will feature a lineup that’s excepted to include Pattraporn Silawanna, Thanawan Sriratchaya, Vicanda Ma, Jasmine Daniel, Chardae Hudson and Fanny Ostlund. Ma and Silawanna finished fifth and sixth, respectively, at the Southern California Regionals.
Ma said qualifying for the state tournament was one of the Vaqueros’ main preseason goals.
“It’s good to be able to go back to state,” Ma said. “It’s all about being a part of state and I feel like we are confident with the way we are playing now.
“It’s a time where we’ve been able to recollect our thoughts from state last year and everything we’ve done this year. If we have one bad shot, then just move on and try your best to regroup.”
College of the Canyons’ Kris Grimes won the Southern California regional by two strokes over Irvine Valley’s Kate Cho and is the state’s defending individual champion. Folsom’s Janet Gilliam topped Allyson Koehler of Sierra by one stroke to take the Northern California Regional.
