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Kim, Maemura tie for medalist honor

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PASADENA — At no point does the Pacific League figure to be easy for any of its six girls’ golf teams.

Some of the squads have accumulated plenty of experience the past several seasons, while others are looking to turn the corner and build their own traditions.

In the latest league match Monday afternoon at Brookside Golf Course No. 2, four athletes braved the hot temperatures to share low medalist accolades and provide another example of how difficult the league might be for the remainder of the season.

Jennifer Kim of La Cañada, Irene Maemura of Burbank and Arcadia’s Katherine Guo and Kayla Yn each finished with one-over-par 37s to lead the way. Crescenta Valley’s Jocelyn Chia, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Golfer of the Year, fired a 38 to pace the Falcons.

Arcadia won the event with a 196, followed by Burroughs (211), Crescenta Valley (214), La Cañada (219), San Marino (233) and Burbank (244).

Maemura, a freshman, wasn’t intimidated playing alongside some of the league’s top individuals.

“My driver was really good,” Maemura said. “I usually don’t hit the ball that far, but I was able to hit the ball about 30 yards farther.

“I missed some short putts on my first two putts and then I started to make some long putts to help me out.”

Kim, a junior, said she adjusted to the course well to put her in position to finish tied on the scoreboard.

“I just had a pretty relaxing day and I played at my own pace,” Kim said. “My putting also helped me out.

“I pretty much made all of my putts to stay in front.”

Chia struggled during her first three holes.

The sophomore recorded a bogey, double bogey and bogey before regrouping on the 6,732-yard course.

“I had some trouble early, but then I regained my focus,” said Chia, whose team placed fifth in the league’s first match Wednesday at Alhambra Golf Course. “My putting was amazing after the first three holes.

“I think the league is harder and more fun because you have some good players and teams.”

Joany Gao recorded a 38, producing the top score for Burroughs.

Gao ran into some difficulty when she registered two bogeys near the midway point of her round.

“Those two bogeys were avoidable,” Gao said. “It happens sometimes.

“I could have done better, but at least I know what I need to work on. It’s just about being able to fix it and going on to something else.”

With a senior-laden team, expectations were high entering the season for San Marino Coach Wyeth Collo.

Unfortunately for Collo, things haven’t gone as planned through the league’s first two matches.

“We are all capable of turning it up,” said Collo, whose best performance came from Carol Young, who carded a 40. “Today was disappointing for us and we know we need to play better and the way we anticipated.”

Burroughs received 40s from Ravipa Losakul and Jasmine Daniel, a 45 from Tatiana Rizzotti and a 48 from Evyn Freedman.

Audrey Chung shot a 39 for Crescenta Valley, which got 45s from Alice Yoon and Yoo Jin Lee and a 47 from Amy Park.

La Cañada got a 41 from Melissa Leo, a 46 from Keilee Bessho, 47 from May Lo and a 48 from Shannon Lee.

Tess Apinchapong had a 46 for Burbank, which got 51s from Haley Pirruccello and Melanie Cho and a 59 from Samantha Kim.

Camille Wang shot a 44 for San Marino, which got a 46 from Tiffany Gu, a 48 from Caroline Van Hiel and a 55 from Chanica Veranunt.

The next league match will take place at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Hansen Dam Golf Course.

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