Two Indians and a Falcon head for CIF links
For three local girls’ golfers, competing in the talent-rich Pacific League provided experience and great deal of competition.
That trio will now get an opportunity to see if that experience will pay dividends when it goes up against some of the top golfers in Southern California.
Crescenta Valley High’s Jocelyn Chia and Ravipa Losakul and Joany Gao of Burroughs will compete at 8 a.m. Monday in the CIF Southern Section Northern Individual Regionals at River Ridge Golf Club’s Vineyard Course in Oxnard.
Chia, who captured the league’s individual championship on Oct. 20 at Jurupa Hills Country Club in Riverside, enters Monday’s 18-hole round with momentum. Chia finished tied for fourth with a two-over-par 73 on Thursday at the CIF Southern Section Central Team Divisional at Jurupa Hills.
Burroughs Coach Greg Everhart said the Pacific League proved to be one of the toughest in the region, as Losakul and Gao finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
“Especially individually in our league, there were really so many girls who were all close in making those eight sports that go to CIF,” said Everhart, whose team placed third in league. “The fact that there was so much competition in league it does nothing but prepare them for the first round of CIF. Our league is so deep, in fact, that I wouldn’t be surprised if all eight of the girls advance to the next round.”
Chia said she is ready for competition.
“I know I can do things better and I feel pretty good that I can do well,” said Chia, who finished tied for 23th at last season’s event at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo. “I’ve been playing better of late.
“Playing in this last year, I now know things better.”
Crescenta Valley Coach Lee Pope said Chia has remained steady with her overall game on the course.
“She’s been through so many tournaments and she just knows the drill,” said Pope, whose team took sixth at Thursday’s CIF event. “Whether it’s the weather or the course, it won’t bother her.
“She did well last year and it’s carried over to this year.”
It is the second straight season the Burroughs duo has both qualified for CIF tournament play. For Losakul, she is making her fourth straight appearance in the regional event.
“To make it four years in a row to CIF is extremely impressive,” Everhart said of Losakul. “And she made it to the second round last season. There really isn’t any reason why she shouldn’t be able to get that far this season, and beyond. I know being a senior she wants to go far.”
The duo is fresh off playing in Thursday’s CIF Southern Section Central Team Divisional at Jurupa Hills Country Club in Riverside. Burroughs placed 11th in the event and Losakul and Gao both tied for 35th, shooting 87s.
The top 45 players plus all ties of the last qualifying score will move on to the CIF Individual Final and Women’s Southern California Golf Assn. Qualifying tournament, which will be held Nov. 7 at Talega Golf Club in San Clemente.
