Harvard-Westlake Climbs to Second

Last season, third place. This season, the Harvard-Westlake girls’ golf team shot 237 and finished second in the Southern Section team finals at Temeku Hills Golf Club in Temecula.

So next season, with all four starters returning, the Wolverines hope to. . . .

“You can guess what that means,” Coach Darlene Bible said.

Call it hope for a natural progression.

Junior Ina Kim and sophomore Emma Stachowicz each shot even-par 72 to lead the Wolverines, who finished three shots behind champion South Torrance on the hilly, 5,139-yard layout.

Villa Park shot 238 to finish third and defending champion Irvine University, a favorite to repeat, finished fourth at 242.

Kim, a solid performer for the Wolverines all season, was disappointed with her putting on the difficult multi-tiered greens. She had 35 putts in her round.

“I could have played much better,” she said. “There were some tough pin positions and I couldn’t get the ball close.”

Hart had high hopes in its first season with a girls’ golf program, and looked in good shape when No. 2 player Alexis Arnold carded a 73. But top player Sara Jones struggled to an 84 and the Indians finished 10th with a 264.

Jennifer Marshall shot 87 to lead La Reina, which shot 273 and finished 11th. Chaminade got a team-best 95 from Brenna Ross, but the Eagles finished last in the 15-team field at 288.