Pattraporn Silawanna first, but GCC women’s golf second

While the members of the Glendale Community College women’s golf team would have liked to have won the North-South Invitational, they didn’t leave Morro Bay Golf Course empty handed.

The Vaqueros finished second in the 15-team event, one stroke behind Western State Conference rival College of the Canyons, but also saw sophomore Pattraporn Silawanna earn medalist honors after winning a one-hole playoff Monday.

Silawanna shot a four-over-par 76 on Monday, including recording a birdie on the par-three 10th hole to win the two-day event for the first time.

“I felt like I played better, though my short game wasn’t too good [Monday],” said Silawanna, the conference’s reigning individual champion. “I had left four or five putts just short of the hole, but I was able to regroup [in the playoff].

“I thought we played well as a team, but it’s tough to lose by one shot.”

Silawanna, who helped the Vaqueros win the conference championship and finish runner-up at the state tournament last season, went first on the playoff. Canyon’s Kristen Grimes, who won the individual state crown last season, followed with a par. Silawanna shot a 73 on Sunday to begin the tournament, which the Vaqueros took third in last season. She finished with a two-round score of 149.

Glendale college Coach Greg Osbourne said Silawanna executed the playoff hole perfectly.

“She was phenomenal,” said Osbourne, whose team won the Southern California regional championship last season. “Kristen and her both hit the greens with their shots and Pattraporn then makes about a 20-foot putt right in front of everybody.

“Pattraporn came into this tournament wanting to win it. She beat a great player in Kristen. We came out of here doing well. We got beat by one stroke, but Pattraporn won the event.”

Glendale shot a 306 Sunday to hold an eight-stroke lead over Canyons entering Monday’s round. The Vaqueros shot a 317 on Monday and Canyons carded a 308 to finish with a top mark of 622.

“I knew an eight-stroke lead would be difficult to hold,” Osbourne said. “COC had its team at full strength.

“A couple of more putts for us, and we’d been OK. I still can’t be more proud of the way our team played. We just have to shoot a bit better.”

Thanawan Sriratchaya of Glendale had a 78 on Monday to finish at 152. Vicanda Ma carded a 76 to finish at 154, followed by Jasmine Daniel with an 87 (168) and Chardae Hudson at 89 (179).

Sacramento finished third (631), followed by Palomar (637) and Mount San Jacinto (654).

Glendale will next participate in a conference match at 10 a.m. Oct. 10 at Simi Hills Golf Course.