Vaqueros take second in Santa Barbara

To qualify for the Southern California Regionals in November, the members of the Glendale Community College women’s golf team know what they need to do — earn a top-two finish in the Western State Conference.

So far, the Vaqueros haven’t lost their focus, even though they weren’t thrilled placing second in a conference match Monday afternoon at Santa Barbara Golf Course.

“They weren’t happy about finishing second,” said Glendale college Coach Greg Osbourne, whose team shot a 325 and finished four strokes behind College of the Canyons. “The golf course was very difficult to play because there are a lot of blind areas around and sometimes you don’t know where to hit it.

“We played as bad as we possibly could, but we are still tied for first in conference.”

Glendale won the first conference match Aug. 29 at Olivas Links Golf Course. It marked the first time the Vaqueros won a conference match in the program’s five-year history. Glendale then placed second in the Desert Tournament in Palm Springs on Saturday.

On Monday, the Vaqueros received a four-over-par 76 from Pattraporn Silawanna, an 81 from Hannah Lee and 84s from Vicanda Ma and Diana Hernandez.

“If you predicted six months ago that we would be where we are at this point of the season, I’d be happy,” said Osbourne, who guided the college’s men’s team to an appearance at the state final in May. “To finish second [Monday] is disappointing.

“Our main goal is to get to the regionals, and I think we have the talent to win conference.”

Bakersfield’s Malea Miller shot a 72 to earn medalist honors.

Santa Barbara City College took third with a 326, followed by Bakersfield (329) and Citrus (474).

The Vaqueros will next compete in another conference match at 10 a.m. Monday at River Lakes Golf Course in Bakersfield.