Harvard-Westlake Girls Raise Par

Much of the talk surrounding the start of girls’ golf at the high school level has centered around the lack of available talent.

Course operators voiced concerns about poor play affecting the pace of play. As a result, matches are only nine holes. Teams are only four players, reducing the number of players on the course at any time.

But Harvard-Westlake’s team has ideas about changing that.

“We have a plan to make a mark for girls’ golf,” Coach Darlene Bible said. “We want everyone to know that we’re here and we’re good.”

Good is an understatement. In their first match last week, the Wolverines posted a score of 120, good enough to compete with any team, boys or girls. That is an average of five over par per player.

No other team in the region has shot better than 132. Harvard-Westlake’s first score is among the top scores reported in the entire Southern Section this season. Valencia of Anaheim has twice broken 120, but there have been no other sub-120 scores reported.

Emma Stachowitz led the way at one-over-par 36. Ina Kim, who advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls’ Amateur championship over the summer, shot 37.

“We won’t know for sure how good we are until we play a few more matches,” Bible said. “But the thing about our top two players is I don’t know any kids that are as cool as them. There is no competitiveness between them.”

One reason the Wolverines are so strong is because they started a junior high program last year.

“The kids got hooked and played all summer,” Bible said.

They will be good for the next couple of years because of their youth.

There are no seniors and no juniors on the team. Kim, the No. 1 player, is the veteran as a sophomore. Stachowitz, who plays No. 2, is a freshman. Katherine Cooper and Eunice Lee, Nos. 3 and 4, are freshmen.

“One of the reasons I had to be involved with the team is because so many are at the middle school,” said Bible, a teacher at Harvard-Westlake middle school, which includes freshmen. “They needed a ride to practices and matches.”

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Jennifer Marshall of La Reina High and Beth Allen of Nordhoff have established themselves as among the top high school players in the region.

Marshall, No. 1 player for the Regents (4-0), has won medalist honors in all four of her team’s matches. She has shot 45, 41, 39 and 40.

Allen, the Rangers’ No. 1 player, fired 39 in her first two matches for Nordhoff (3-0) and won medalist honors each time.

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Linda Chen-Olsen of Granada Hills, who will play in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship beginning Oct. 3 at the Champions Club in Houston, Texas, seems to be on a roll.

On Tuesday, she won the 27th annual Women’s Master Golf Championship on Tuesday at Meniste Lakes Country Club in Temecula.

Olsen, club champion at PGA West in La Quinta, shot two-under-par 142 (71-71) to defend the title she won last year. The tournament is open to club champions and runners-up from all public and private clubs in Southern California.

On Sept. 19, Olsen set a women’s course record by shooting five-under-par 66 at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo during a member-guest tournament. Olsen had five birdies and no bogeys en route to breaking the record of 67 she set in the same tournament last year. She and partner Cathy Lonegan won the tournament.

“I was just happy that I didn’t have any bogeys,” Olsen said. “I wasn’t thinking about my score. Maybe that is the way to play.”

Olsen reached the semifinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur last year.

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Anthony Marciano, a junior at Cal State Northridge, has been chosen the Big Sky Conference Men’s Golfer of the Week after finishing seventh at the Pacific Invitational Sept. 21-22 at Saddle Creek Golf Club in Copperopolis.

Marciano, a Royal High graduate, shot 69-70-72--211 and the Matadors finished 18th in their first tournament this season.

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Pepperdine’s young guns got off to an impressive start.

Freshmen Jason Allred and Michael Beard finished 10th and 11th, respectively, in their college debuts last week at the New Mexico Tucker Invitational.

They helped the Waves finish third in the 18-team tournament, 20 strokes behind behind Texas, ranked No. 21 nationally, and 12 behind No. 23 Brigham Young.

The Waves finished seven strokes ahead of No. 24 USC.

“We finished behind two nationally ranked teams and played three consistent rounds in a tournament that featured a number of quality opponents,” Coach John Geiberger said. “It provides a good benchmark.”

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The Sparky Anderson-Cal Lutheran Baseball Golf Classic will take place Nov. 9 at Wood Ranch Country Club in Simi Valley.

Entry is $200 per golfer for the Texas Scramble tournament, tee prizes, a raffle, auction and dinner.

Anderson, former manager of the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers, is a Thousand Oaks resident.

Past participants include George Brett, Mike Lieberthal, Vin Scully, Steve Yeager and Robin Yount. Proceeds benefit the Cal Lutheran baseball program. Information: (805) 493-3398.

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Leaderboard

TEARDROP TOUR STEVINSON CLASSIC

Tuesday-Thursday

at Stevinson Ranch Golf Club

Final Results

205--Jason Enloe, Dallas, 66-69-70, $5,000

206--Doug Labelle, 67-68-71, $3,000

210--Steve Woods, Pleasanton, 68-73-69, $1,633

210--Brett Wayment, Logan, Utah, 67-74-69, $1,633

210--Joe Acosta, Sherman Oaks, 67-72-71, $1,633

211--James Drew, Turlock, 74-67-70, $1,216

211--Joe McCormick, Hutchinson, Minn, 71-71-69, $1,216

211--Ron Ewing, Merced, 70-69-72, $1,216

212--Tony Bordwell, Valencia, 71-69-72, $1,100

213--Roger Tambellini, Templeton, 69-72-72, $1,050

214--Chad Wright, Ventura, 72-71-71, $1,000

215--Jon Bettencourt, Fresno, 74-69-72, $833

215--Brian Hull, La Canada, 70-73-72, $833

215--Eric Buckelew, San Jose, 71-70-74, $833

218--Rich Barcelo, Reno, 68-75-75, $700

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Tee Times

A look at upcoming tournaments in the region or major events involving top regional players:

SEPTEMBER * 25-26: George C. Thomas Jr. Memorial Tournament, Los Angeles Country Club.

* 28: SCPGA Apprentice Championship, Oak Valley Golf Club.

* 28-29: SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship, Saticoy Country Club, Somis.

OCTOBER * 5-6: SCGA Senior Amateur Championship, Ranch Course at The Alisal.

* 8-9: L.A. City Seniors Championship, Griffith Park.

* 8-10: Founders Trophy Invitational, Rancho Sante Fe Farms.

* 9-10: Mission Bell Championship, San Gabriel.

* 10-11: Wilshire Invitational, Wilshire.

* 16-17: W.W. Crenshaw Invitational, Oakmont Country Club, Glendale.

* 27: SCGA 4-Ball Qualifying, Rio Bravo.

* 29: SCGA 4-Ball Qualifying, Warner Springs Ranch.