GCC’s cohesive unit
Having another individual state champion would be a boon for the Glendale Community College women’s golf team.
Last season, Glendale college Coach Greg Osbourne brought in former Glendale High standout Tammy Panich. All Panich did was become the first Vaquero golfer — woman or man — to win a state title. Panich, who transferred to Texas A&M International, left a legacy and brought immediate credibility to the program.
Osbourne would like to see the program establish additional recognition this season.
“We don’t need a leader because I think we will have a cohesive team,” said Osbourne, whose team will begin its season at 10 a.m. today in the South Coast Tournament. “They already have a sense of pride and I want them to be proud of the program.
“We just need to stay consistent and not blow up because it’s once again going to be a very tough conference.”
The Vaqueros placed fourth in conference last season behind College of the Canyons, Bakersfield and Santa Barbara City College. Glendale will field seven players, up from four last season.
With additional players, the expectations will rise for the Vaqueros.
“The major thing for us now is to try to make it to the Southern California Regionals as a team,” said Osbourne, who also serves as the college’s men’s golf coach and guided the Vaqueros to the state tournament last spring for the first time in the program’s history. “Then, we want to make it to state as a team.
“I think we can do that. I have no prediction as to where we will end up in conference, but I feel like we have a very competitive team.”
Glendale will return Diana Hernandez and Imelda Treto. They will be joined by sophomore Hannah Lee and freshmen Pattraporn Silawanna, Thanawan Sriratchaya, Vicanda Ma and Maiya Nesbit. Lee finished fourth in the Western State Conference last season as a member of College of the Canyons before opting to transfer to Glendale.
Osbourne, who also is a PGA Pro and the head pro at Chevy Chase Country Club, said depth will be a factor in determining how far the Vaqueros will go.
“I’m happy that they are all here, and now we will look to see who will stand out,” said Osbourne, a former Glendale college golfer and All-American at California Lutheran University. “I want them to follow Tammy in terms of how she played and acted.
“We have players here who can get things accomplished. I don’t know what the other teams in our conference have. If other teams are indeed better, then so be it.”
Hernandez said the Vaqueros are eager to begin a new season, which will include hosting a conference match at 11 a.m. Oct. 17 at Oakmont Country Club.
“We will have a full team, and that’s something we didn’t have last year,” Hernandez said. “We are excited and we expect to have a fun season.”
The Vaqueros will participate in their first conference match at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 12 at Santa Barbara Golf Course. The conference finals will be held Oct. 30-31 at a site to be determined.
