Driving to Defend Their League Titles

Stella Lee of Irvine, Stella Min of El Dorado, Angela Won of University and Carling Cho of Dana Hills are looking to defend titles as league individual championships get underway this week at courses throughout Southern California.

Lee, a senior who won the Sea View by 10 strokes last year, will have to contend with Leisl Hasbrouck of Aliso Niguel, the freshman who keyed the Wolverines’ league championship this season.

Min, defending her Empire title, figures to find her toughest competition in teammate Stacy Ellingson. Together, they guided the Golden Hawks to a third consecutive league title.

Won posted a 24-shot victory in the Pacific Coast last season, but look for teammate Sunny Lee and Corona del Mar’s Allison Schauppner to close that gap. Lee shot 91 in the first round last year, then came back with a 78 to finish second.

Cho should have little trouble defending in the South Coast. A winner by eight shots over teammate Brittany Tall last year, the much-improved Cho is still a few strokes better than her competition.

Megan Mulhaupt of Santa Margarita, who won the Sea View as a sophomore and finished second in the Serra as a junior, looks to climb back on top. The senior, who finished second to Kim Manalanson of Torrance Bishop Montgomery by one stroke last season, is the favorite this year after Manalanson graduated. Jennifer Sanders and Eileen Jonas of Rosary will make Mulhaupt’s bid difficult.

Jamie Oliver of Los Alamitos is the Sunset favorite, if she can avoid flying golf balls. Oliver, the favorite to win the league as a freshman last year, was struck in the arm by a wayward golf shot during the first round and had to withdraw. Oliver’s challengers will be Kayley Parrett of Esperanza and Minnie Choi of Fountain Valley.

The top two finishers in each league advance to the Southern Section finals Nov. 21 at Mission Lakes Country Club in Desert Hot Springs.

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

Team Divisional Championships are Nov. 6, with the majority playing in the Southern Divisional at El Prado in Chino.

University and Villa Park are the favorites for a division championship. University won the title last year by 21 shots over Villa Park and Corona del Mar, which tied for second. Santa Margarita and Irvine finished fourth and fifth. All five teams have their top three players returning.

Dana Hills, Aliso Niguel and Los Alamitos, champions in their respective leagues, and Rosary and Esperanza, which finished second, will also battle for one of the five berths in the Southern Section finals Nov. 13 at Montecito Country Club in Santa Barbara.

If you have an item or idea for the Girls’ Golf report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at peter.yoon@latimes.com

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GIRLS’ GOLF TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School (League) Rec. 1. University (Pacific Coast) 16-0 2. Villa Park (Century) 17-1 3. Aliso Niguel (Sea View) 17-1 4. Santa Margarita (Serra) 15-3 5. Rosary (Serra) 14-2 6. Los Alamitos (Sunset) 16-1 7. Corona del Mar (Pacific Coast) 13-5 8. Dana Hills (South Coast) 12-4 9. Esperanza (Sunset) 13-4 10. Irvine (Sea View) 9-5

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