University Conquers Nerves and Villa Park

If University and Villa Park wanted to act like their match Thursday at Green River was just another round of golf, one look at the first tee put an end to that notion.

Reporters and cameramen surrounded the first tee box as players waited to hit, creating an air of importance to the match and raising the level of anxiety among the players.

And in the battle for the No. 1 ranking in Orange County, top-ranked University rose to the occasion and No. 2 Villa Park wilted in a 120-130 Trojan victory.

University junior Angela Won shook off a double bogey on the second hole by chipping in for birdie at No. 4, following with a 14-foot birdie putt at No. 5 and hitting to within four feet on No. 7 and sinking the putt for another birdie.

Won, who barely missed birdie putts at Nos. 6 and 8, finished with a one-under-par 35. Teammate Sunny Lee also overcame a shaky start and made pars on the final three holes to finish with a 41.

“It was nerve-racking because everyone was making such a big deal out of it,” said Michelle Barth, who completed the University scoring with a 44. “I took one look at that first tee and I was like, ‘I’m glad I’m not playing [in the first group].’ ”

As the Trojans (14-0) settled down after the poor start, Villa Park (14-1) struggled. No. 1 player Priscilla Park missed an 18-inch putt on the first hole and made a triple-bogey eight. She followed with a bogey at No. 2 and seemed to be back on track when her tee shot at the par-3 third hit five feet from the hole and spun back to about 15 feet away.

But Park, the 1999 Orange County player of the year, five-putted, twice lipping out short putts, and made another triple bogey. She played the remaining six holes in one over par and finished with 44.

Spartan No. 2 player Shelly Raworth had two three-putts and made only three pars--all on par-three holes--in shooting 43.

“I’ve never seen us putt that poorly,” Spartan Coach Gordon Sutorius said. “I definitely think it was nerves, but these girls are going to have to learn to play under pressure.”