New-look Vaqs prepared to tee off

GLENDALE — Don’t expect the Glendale Community College women’s golf team to win any of its matches this season.

It’s not something Vaquero first-year Coach Greg Osbourne had in mind when he took over the program from Kirt Kohlmeier shortly after last season concluded. Since Osbourne will have only three players in the mix in the program’s fourth year of competition, it figures to be a struggle since he won’t be able to fill a complete five-player lineup.

Still, Osbourne’s counting on at least one of his athletes to vie for individual glory late in the season.

“It’s disappointing not having a full team,” said Osbourne, who also coaches the college’s men’s team and is a PGA Pro and the head pro at De Bell Golf Club in Burbank. “If I had some more players, there’s a real possibility that we would be a state contender.

“Unfortunately, when I took over the team, the cupboard was bare and I was not able to attend high school golf tournaments and matches where I could recruit. It’s an individual sport, so they will still all be competing.”

The Vaqueros, who finished fourth in the competitive Western State Conference last season despite having several athletes declared academically ineligible, will field a lineup consisting of sophomore Tammy Panich and freshmen Imelda Treto and Diana Hernandez. Panich, a Glendale High graduate and a two-time All-Area member, played on the Cal State Northridge women’s team last season before transferring.

Panich recently underwent an appendectomy, but will likely compete when the Vaqueros begin their season Monday with a Western State Conference match at Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura.

“We will count on Tammy, but I feel like Imelda and Diana are going to be solid players, too,” said Osbourne, a former Glendale college golfer and All-American at California Lutheran University. “The main goal for us will be to try to get at least one of our players into the Southern California Regionals and into the state tournament.”

The Vaqueros will host a conference match at 11 a.m. Sept 20 at Oakmont Country Club.

The conference will consist of traditional powerhouses College of the Canyons and Santa Barbara City College.

Osbourne, who led the men’s team to a fourth-place finish in conference last season, said it will take time to reestablish the women’s program.

“It might take two to three years to build the program, just like the men’s team,” Osbourne said. “