A course for success

The Burroughs High girls’ golf team had a successful season last year.

Along with finishing as the runner-up in the Pacific League behind Arcadia, the Indians advanced to the in CIF Southern Section Central Team Divisional, where they finished seventh.

The good news for Burroughs is that it has much of the team from last season back, and Coach Greg Everhart said he is hoping his group can compete for a league title.

At Burbank, Coach Branco Sevic also has his share of returning talent, which should give the Bulldogs some much-needed experience.

All the teams in the Pacific League are dealing with the addition of La Cañada, a program that went undefeated in the regular season last season.

Here is a look at how the teams are shaping up.

BURROUGHS

Even with the Spartans joining the league, Everhart said he expects his squad to be up there with the best teams in the league.

“I’m really excited to see what this group is going to be able to do,” Everhart said. “We have a really good group back from last year and I think that this is the season that we are going to be able to make some noise in our league.”

The Indians will field a solid group among its top three golfers, led by four-year players Ravipa Losakul and Jasmine Daniel. Sophomore Joany Gao, who had a productive freshman season, round out the three.

In 2010, Losakul tied for fourth place and Gao finished sixth in the league finals. Both advanced to CIF Southern Section Individual Tournament at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo.

The captain of the team will be junior Alex Chandler.

“All the girls really look up to Alex,” Everhart said.

Rejoining the team is junior Tatiana Rizzotti, a talented girls’ soccer player who didn’t compete in golf a year ago.

The squad also boasts returners in senior Hailey Hays and sophomores Shannon Pafford, Evyn Freedman and Stephanie Adachi.

“This is a team that should contend for the top spot in league,” Everhart said.

BURBANK

Sevic said he has a good group of golfers who have been working hard to get prepared for the season.

“We have the nucleus of our team back from last season,” he said. “I think we have the talent to be competitive.”

Leading the returning group is junior Tess Apinchapong. Last season, Apinchapong pulled off an impressive feat when she carded a hole in one in a Pacific League match. She is only the second golfer in league history to make a hole in one.

In last season’s league finals, Apinchapong placed ninth.

The Bulldogs also have a strong returner in senior Haley Pirruccello.

“Haley and Tess have been playing during the summer,” Sevic said. “We are looking for them to step up for us.”

Senior Melanie Cho, who is also returning, should see time in the starting lineup.

A newcomer who Sevic has been impressed with is freshman Irene Maemura, who has tournament experience.

“As far as league goes; I expect Arcadia, Burroughs and [Crescenta Valley] to have good teams,” Sevic said.