Osborn Wins in Three-Way Playoff

On a day when slick sloping greens and tricky pin positions made birdies a rarity, it was only fitting that a routine par proved the tournament winner Tuesday in the CIF-WSCGA finals.

Jennifer Osborn of Huntington Beach Marina High shot one-over-par 73 at the SCGA Members Club at Murrieta, then won the individual championship in a three-way playoff with Kim Silber of Bonita Vista and Songyi Yi of Rancho Bernardo.

Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula shot a four-player team total of 325 and upset two-time defending team champion Encinitas Torrey Pines by one stroke. Annika Windon led Peninsula with a 75.

Osborn, a sophomore, struck three outstanding shots into the par-five hole during the playoff and left herself in good position, about 12 feet left of the hole.

Silber and Yi each made bogeys before Osborn attempted her birdie putt so, needing only two putts to win, she lagged her first putt to within 18 inches -- a bit shorter than she would have liked -- then stroked in a knee-knocker for the win.

“I didn’t want to blast it way past the hole,” Osborn said. “That was a scary little one-footer.”

A fixture on the local junior circuit, Osborn won her first national tournament Saturday at the American Junior Golf Assn. Junior All-Star Series Championship in Florida. Tuesday, her ball-striking and patience on the difficult greens were key. She hit 15 greens in regulation and three-putted only once on a day that featured several three-, four- and five-putts by other players.

“[The greens] were tough, but tough is fun,” Osborn said. “I just really took my time with putts -- maybe too much time -- and just tried to hang in there all day.”

Jennie Lee of Huntington Beach Edison shot 74 and finished fourth. Southern Section individual champion Jenni Tangtiphaiboontana of Long Beach Wilson, Amie Cochran of West Torrance, Soo Ji Cho of Glendale and Windon tied for fifth at 75.

Peninsula’s victory was a surprise to everyone -- except the Panthers. Torrey Pines had every player back from a team that had won the last two team titles, but Peninsula got clutch performances from Windon and Colette Lowe, who shot 81.