Breakers share league crown

In order to earn a share of the 2010 Golden West League girls’ golf championship, the Laguna Beach Breakers knew they had to win out in the final week of the regular season.

They did just that.

Starting with a critical Oct. 4 victory over first-place Estancia, Laguna capped its regular season this week with a win against visiting Loara (274-324) Tuesday and by forfeit victory Wednesday against visiting Westminster.

That’s a 3-0 finish to the season, beginning with a home course win against their chief league rival Estancia, which won last year’s championship.

Laguna and Estancia share this year’s crown, just as the programs did two years ago.

Laguna won the school’s first outright league title in 2007.

The Breakers and Eagles concluded league play with 11-1 records. Laguna also is 13-2 overall.

“It’s a really great accomplishment for the girls to some degree, seeing as how there was no one ‘star’ player on the team, like in year’s past,” Laguna Coach Val Quigley said. “We finished strong. The girls had a day against Estancia where everyone played a great game. The girls realized the importance of the match and really pulled it together. That was great to see.”

The Breakers set themselves up for a great regular season finish by handing league-leader and previously undefeated Estancia a 258-261 defeat at Bella Collina Towne & Golf Club in San Clemente, Muirfield Course (par 36). Estancia had won the first league meeting between the teams on Sept. 14 at Mesa Linda Golf Course in Costa Mesa.

The entire Breakers lineup shot solid scores in the Oct. 4 win, three of whom shot their personal-best scores at Bella Collina. Most notable was junior Taylor Weiss, who shot a 45, her best score at the course by six strokes. Weiss was just one stroke behind Estancia’s top player and reigning league Most Valuable Player, Ashley Peters, who was medalist at 44.

Senior Devin Altieri had the best performance of her career (51) at Bella Collina by nine stokes and freshman Jackie McMahon (52) stepped up with a clutch performance by also shooting her personal best at the course. Senior Christianne Kinder’s 50 was the third-best score of the day and is the second-best score she has shot at Bella Collina. Junior Laura Kawashiri’s 60 was the team’s other posted score.

In Tuesday’s win against Loara at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course (par 37), Kinder was medalist with a 49.

By finishing as league co-champions, Laguna and Estancia will play a tie-breaker during the first day of league finals, with the winner of that playoff advancing to represent the league at the CIF team playoffs that start Oct. 28, Quigley said.

The Golden West League finals are Wednesday and Thursday at El Prado Golf Course in Chino. The top 12 golfers from the opening day of the league tournament advance to Thursday’s league finals. The top four from finals advance to the CIF Individuals Nov. 1 at El Dorado Park Golf Course in Long Beach.

The 2010 Laguna Beach girls’ golf team is: seniors Christianne Kinder (captain), Devin Altieri and Hilary Jonus, juniors Taylor Weiss, Laura Kawashiri and Vivian Mendoza and freshmen Jackie McMahon and Sarah Simmons.