Falcons place second, Indians fifth in invitational

BURBANK — With its unforgiving barrancas and challenging layout, there were girls’ golfers who didn’t particularly enjoy playing at De Bell Golf Club Thursday, the site of the 12th annual Magnolia Park Optimist Club Girls’ High School Invitational.

Included in that group were Crescenta Valley High’s Jocelyn Chia and Burbank’s Irene Maemura, although it is her team’s home course.

However, there were also players who enjoyed the challenges that De Bell presented, including Burroughs’ Stephanie Adachi and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame’s Katelyn Reynolds.

Despite her displeasure with the course, Chia played well during Thursday’s event, placing third in the A Flight and helping Crescenta Valley finish second in the team standings.

Adachi also played well, finishing third in the B Flight for a Burroughs team that tied for fifth. Falcon Alice Yoon was second in the B Flight.

Falcons Coach Lee Pope said he gave his team some particular instructions before it ventured out into De Bell’s confines.

“I told them to keep their driver in their bag as much as possible,” said Pope, whose Falcons are in first place in the Pacific League. “I told them that it’s better on this course to come up a little short than to hit too long and get into trouble.”

The Falcons also received a 38 from Audrey Chung and a 46 from Andrea Han.

Chia, who has earned low medalist honors in three league matches, fired an even-par 36, which included three birdies.

“I really don’t like playing on this course,” Chia said. “The greens aren’t exactly ideal and there are some really rough spots.”

The A Flight winner was Reynolds, who shot a two-under-par 34. Michelle Yom of South Torrance was second with a 35.

Reynolds paced Notre Dame to a first-place finish with a team score of 149, 14 strokes ahead of Crescenta Valley (163). The Knights also had players shoot 37, 38 and 40 in the winning tally.

South Torrance (167) captured the No. 3 spot and was followed by West Ranch (175) and a tie for fifth between Burroughs (181) and Mira Costa (181).

In the B Flight, Amy Park of Chaminade placed first with a 42 and was followed by Yoon (43) and Adachi (45).

“I really love playing on this course,” said Adachi of Burroughs, which also got a 41 from Joany Gao, a 46 frpm Alex Chandler and a 49 from Evtn Freedman. “If you know how to play the course than you can play pretty well. I thought I played pretty well today.”

Burbank had a 204, getting a 38 from Maemura, a 43 from Tess Apinchapong, a 61 from Kaitlyn Brooks and a 62 from Alexis Poche.

La Cañada got a 42 from Keilee Bessho, a 45 from Mary Lo, a 54 from Madelyn Merchant and a 68 from Mikaela Choi to finish with a 210. The Spartans’ normal top golfer, Melissa Leo, was a scratch.

Westridge (187) was paced by Niamh James and Gabby Chan, who fired 44s. Jackie Pai had a 47 and Allegra Gutierrez had a 52.