Burroughs grad Emily Tubert, USA golf falls short

Bits and pieces from the local sports scene.

Unites States unable to capture 2012 Curtis Cup Match championship: Despite enjoying early leads during the three-day event, former Burroughs High standout Emily Tubert and Team USA fell to a Britain and Ireland team, 10½-9½, in the event at the Nairn Golf Club in Nairn, Scotland.

Britain-Ireland captured five singles matches Sunday to pull out the victory. It is Britain-Ireland’s first title since 1996 and seventh in match history.

A point was awarded for each victory and a half-point goes to each side for a draw.

The winning point came courtesy of Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow, 20, who defeated Amy Anderson, 19, of Oxbow, ND, by a 4-and-2 margin, on the par-72, 6,313-yard course.

Britain-Ireland captured the opening three singles matches, including come-from-behind victories from Kelly Tidy, 20, of England, and Amy Boulden, 18, of Wales, who defeated Tubert, 3 and 1.

The morning had started strong for the Americans, with Austin Ernst, 20, of Seneca, SC and Tubert building 2-up leads by the fifth hole over Tidy and Boulden, respectively.

But the tide quickly turned in favor of Britain-Ireland. Tidy knocked in a 25-foot birdie at the par-five seventh to tighten the gap, and both players evened their matches with consecutive birdies at the ninth and 10th. Ernst and Tubert were never able to gain any advantage and fell by 2-and-1 and 3-and-1 margins, respectively.

Lisa McCloskey, 20, of Houston, cruised to a 4-and-3 win over Pamela Pretswell, 23, of Scotland, and temporarily stopped the roll. But Holly Clyburn, 20, of England, tallied the third point with a 3-and-2 victory over Erica Popson, 21, of Davenport, Fla.

The USA’s other two victories came from 2010 veteran Tiffany Lua, 21, of Rowland Heights, who edged Bronte Law, 12, of England, 2-up, and Brooke Pancake, 22, of Chattanooga, Tenn., who earned a 6-and-5 triumph over Ireland’s Leona Maguire.

After the US came through with a sweep of their foursomes Friday morning, Britain-Ireland battled back with two afternoon four-ball victories, giving the Americans a 4-2 lead after the first day.

Tubert teamed up with Anderson in a four-ball paring for a win. The duo combined for seven birdies during the 4-and-3 triumph over Pretswell and Charley Hull, 16, of England.

Britain-Ireland continued to play well Saturday, capturing two of the day’s four-ball matches and split the third to cut the US’s lead to 6½-5½ going into Sunday.

Clyburn and Tidy defeated Tubert and Anderson, 1 up.

Tubert was a CIF Southern Section champion at Burroughs. She just finished her sophomore season at the University of Arkansas, where she earned her second consecutive All-American award.

Area softball players invited to take part in all-star game: Three senior softball athletes from Burroughs High and one from Burbank will take part in today’s seventh annual San Fernando Valley Classic All-Star Game at Birmingham High.

The game will begin at 3 p.m. and be preceded by a home-run-hitting contest.

Catcher Shannon Trujillo, second baseman Caitlin Loera and pitcher Haley Schulman will represent the Indians, while second baseman Nalani Hernandez will represent the Bulldogs. They will play for the East squad.

Coaching the East team will be Burroughs Coach Doug Nicol, who will be accompanied by his staff.

Indians have mixed results in own tournament: The Burroughs High girls’ basketball team couldn’t advance to the championship round of the Summer Slam Tournament that took place Friday through Sunday at Burroughs and Burbank highs.

In action Sunday, Burroughs was defeated by Buena, 41-14. Sidney Ortega had nine points for the Indians.

Also on Sunday, St. Monica beat Burroughs, 38-34. Aysia Shellmire paced the Indians with 17 points, 12 rebounds and four steals. Ortega added points and five steals.

On Friday, Burroughs got by Marymount, 48-33, as Delany Nicol had 10 points and Ortega chipped in with nine. Brooke Radcliff had four steals and 11 rebounds.

The Indians also lost a close one on Friday, falling to St. Paul, 33-32. Ortega had 11 points and Shellmire had seven points and six blocks. Teammate Davina Del Castillo had six rebounds and four assists.

St. Bernard won the tournament, beating La Jolla Country Day in the semifinals and Horizon from San Diego in the championship.