Towersey Finally Makes Senior Class

Marianne Towersey of Newport Harbor High is finally a senior this year, but unfortunately for the Sailors, she isn’t eligible for the girls’ golf team.

Towersey, 50, is the Sailors’ coach. Last week in Pennsylvania, she made a splash, playing her first U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Championship.

A 16-time club champion at Santa Ana Country Club, Towersey was stroke-play medalist at the Women’s Senior amateur and advanced to the quarterfinals of match play.

The event was among the few national sporting events not disrupted by the terrorist attacks on Tuesday. Towersey, who had an 8 a.m. tee time Tuesday, was in the middle of her second-round victory over Helene Gosse of Pittsburgh when the strikes against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon occurred. She later won a third-round match, calling the victories bittersweet.

“It was a little bit rugged having to go back out there and play,” said Towersey, who was informed of the attacks between her matches.

“The most difficult part was putting on my golf shoes and going back out there. The USGA [official] was telling me what happened and it was like they were speaking in limericks.”

Three and out: Competitors in the Santa Ynez tournament are relieved to know that Julie McKenna won’t be coming back.

McKenna, a senior at Newbury Park, shot a four-over 76 on Monday at the Alisal River Course and won the tournament for the third consecutive year. She is the only player to win the individual title in the tournament’s three-year history.

McKenna and teammate Alex Harris won the two-player, best-ball team title.

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Looking Ahead: Several Southern Section top teams will gather Saturday at La Purisima Golf course in Lompoc for the third San Marcos Invitational.

Newbury Park pulled out because McKenna has a recruiting trip to UCLA that day and Panther Coach Nori Parvin doesn’t want to take her less-experienced players to a difficult course.

“You don’t want to put beginners on a course like La Purisima,” Parvin said.

Villa Park intends to defend its title, but may not send its best lineup. Top Spartan player Priscilla Park had to reschedule a recruiting trip to the East Coast because of airline restrictions last week. The trip is tentatively scheduled for this weekend.

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THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

1. Redondo Union (1-0, SS-Ocean)

Posted forfeit victory over West Torrance.

2. Huntington Beach Marina (2-0, SS-Sunset)

Freshman Jennifer Osborn is the real deal.

3. Dana Hills (2-0, SS-South Coast)

Impressive 216 at Oak Creek.

4. Anaheim Esperanza (3-0, SS-Sunset)

Has broken 225 at three courses.

5. Villa Park (1-0, SS-Century)

Shot 238 in opener, won in forfeit.

6. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (1-0, SS-Mission)

Two matches canceled last week.

7. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (0-0, SS-Mission)

Wolverines have yet to play, remain a mystery.

8. Fullerton Rosary (3-0, SS-Serra)

Young, deep and talented Royals have started strong.

9. Palm Desert (2-0, SS-Desert Valley)

Shot 437 to win 18-hole tournament at Lakes CC.

10. Long Beach Wilson (1-0, SS-Moore)

Produced a solid 454 in 18-hole victory at Old Ranch CC.