Glendale Community College men’s golf takes fourth in conference match
Having played golf for nearly 10 years, Jin Park needed a break.
Park was a member of the Glendale Community College men’s golf team that advanced to the state tournament in 2011. He took last season off with no immediate plans to return to the Vaqueros.
Visiting a range and hitting balls didn’t suit Park. He then realized, after a year away from the courses, that he didn’t want to give up the sport.
“I think I was just a little burned out after playing it for such a long time,” said Park, who carded a three-over-par 75 on Monday in a Western State Conference match at River Ridge Golf Club’s Victoria Lakes Course in Oxnard. “I talked to [Glendale Community College men’s golf Coach Greg Osbourne] and he inspired me to come back and be a part of the team again.
“I didn’t start off great, but I’m getting better with each round because of my consistency.”
Park, a Burbank High graduate, finished with four birdies Monday.
Glendale finished fourth in the seven-team event with a 389. College of the Canyons won the event with a 363, followed by Santa Barbara (377) and Ventura (378).
Osbourne, who led the Vaqueros to a second-place finish in conference last season, said Park has shown steady improvement.
“He’s been coming through and getting better all the time,” Osbourne said. “Right now, we have one individual to go to Southern California Regionals, and that’s Jin.”
The Vaqueros received a 76 from Clayton Ojeda, 79s from Derrik Hubbard and Ryan Miranda and an 80 from Tavit Garabedian.
Our scores were a little better than they have been in past matches only because we took a practice round here last Wednesday,” Osbourne said. “Coming into the season, I thought I had six guys who could shoot 75 or lower.
“We need leadership and we are missing that for the most part right now.
Glendale will next compete in the North-South Challenge in Nipomo. The event will be played Sunday at Monarch Dunes Golf Club and Monday at Black Lake Golf Course.
