Shorthanded Vaqueros thrown for a loop

SYLMAR — Let the search for a few good golfers get underway.

For the Glendale Community College women’s golf team, expectations were high entering its second year of existence. With a deep lineup and some experience, the Vaqueros figured to challenge for the Western State Conference championship.

However, reality set in for the suddenly shorthanded Vaqueros, who finished fifth in the first of six conference matches Monday at El Cariso Golf Course.

Glendale college Coach Kirt Kohlmeier saw his squad compete without several athletes, all of whom are currently not on the team for various reasons. It put the Vaqueros in a bind while they shot a 350 on Monday.

“We need to go out and get another scorer,” said Kohlmeier, whose squad finished fourth in conference and third in the conference finals last year . “The people that I have are out there working hard.

“We’ve got to go on a city wide search so that we can shore up the spots that were vacated.”

Santa Barbara City College won the match with a 283, followed by College of the Canyons (297). Bakersfield College took third (317), Moorpark College placed fourth (340) and Citrus College was sixth (384).

Ideally, the Vaqueros wouldn’t mind coming close to matching the achievements of Santa Barbara and Canyons. However, it will require additional golfers and more practice.

Cristina Pasquariello finished with a 15-over-par 77 to lead the Vaqueros, who got a 78 from Brittney Gonzalez, an 82 from Alexa Petroski and a 113 from Ruth McNevin.

“I’m extremely pleased with the work that they’ve done,” Kohlmeier said. “They’ve lived up to everything they said they’ve done.

“They know what to work on. It’s just a fact that they have to continue to go out and do it in practice and then do it all over again in a match.”

Pasquariello, a freshman, turned in a score that she hadn’t expected.

“I expected to get around an 88,” she said. “That’s about what I usually shoot.

“I found out that when you play with good people that you have a better score. I hope to do the same again.”

Jenna Boyle of Santa Barbara carded a 67 to pick up medalist honors on the 4,085-yard course. Katherine James of Bakersfield placed second (68), Asaka Sim of Santa Barbara finished third (69) and Jennifer Kim of Canyons was fourth (70).

The next conference match will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 17 at Robinson Ranch Golf Course in the Santa Clarita Valley.