Vaqueros make it a first
Fielding a full compliment of players proved to be difficult throughout most of the first four years of the Glendale Community College women’s golf team’s existence.
Things certainly changed for the better in the fifth year for the Vaqueros. Finally armed with a complete squad, Glendale college made it one of its main preseason goals to win the program’s first Western State Conference championship and then qualify for the Southern California Regionals.
In order to capture the conference championship, Glendale college needed to win one of the two rounds in the conference tournament, which was held Sunday and Monday at Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura. It accomplished the feat Sunday and then had one of its own players win the conference’s individual crown Monday.
Glendale college finished with a two-round score of 635 and Pattraporn Silawanna carded a five-over-par 77 on Monday to spark the Vaqueros.
“Winning the conference championship is great,” Glendale Coach Greg Osbourne said. “That was one of the main things for us because we felt like we had the team that could contend.
“It’s incredible to win conference this year after only having [four] players last year. To win conference is unbelievable and great for the community.”
Glendale, which opened Sunday’s competition with a 316, edged College of the Canyons by two strokes. Santa Barbara finished third at 652, followed by Bakersfield at 652 and Citrus at 943.
Silawanna completed her 36-hole competition with a 155 to win the conference’s individual championship. She was also named the conference’s player of the year after finishing with a season-scoring average of 76.
Silawanna, who edged teammate Hannah Lee by one stroke in the conference final, said a strong all-around game paved the way for her to win the conference title.
“Things went better for me with my long and short games in each round,” Silawanna said. “It feels good to be able to go out there and win.
“We knew we would be a good team that could win [conference].”
Vicanda Ma of Glendale carded a two-round score of 160, including a 79 on Monday, to place fifth. Teammate Thanawan Sriratchaya recorded an 85 on Monday and placed sixth at 164.
Among the other Vaqueros to join Silawanna in securing all-conference accolades were Ma, Lee and Sriratchaya. Ma finished fourth in scoring average with a 77.29, followed by Lee (fifth, 77.43) and Sriratchaya (sixth, 78.14).
“It took a lot of practice rounds throughout the season at all of these different courses and it sure helped,” Osbourne said. “It’s a fantastic group and everything came together.”
The regionals will be held Monday and Nov. 8 at Twin Oaks Golf Course in San Marcos.
