The disappointment was obvious on the University girls golf team. One player appeared to be on the verge of tears as she posed for a picture with the Trojans alongside the 18th green on Monday at Lakewood Country Club.
It’s not like the University played terribly in the CIF-SS Southern Team Divisional. They were among the three teams to make the cut to the WSCGA qualifying tournament on Thursday in Chino Hills.
“But If the girls would have shot their normal scores we would have done better,” University coach Kevin Kasper said.
Earlier this season, the Trojans set a school record finishing four under par as a team. On Monday, they shot a 13-over-par 383 to place second, two strokes behind La Serna, which defended its championship in the southern divisional with a 381.
This was the second year in a row the Pacific Coast League had two teams place in the top three as Beckman came in third with a 390 and earned a tee time in Thursday’s tournament at Western Hills Country Club as well.
It was also the second consecutive season in which University advanced out of this divisional. Last fall, the Trojans placed third, finishing one stroke behind La Serna, which tied for first with Corona del Mar before winning on the sixth player’s score.
“La Serna is a good team. They threw up a really good score again. You have got to tip your hat to them,” Kasper said. “We get to keep moving on which is good, so we are happy about that. Finishing second is something to be proud of. It is a good score, and we have accomplished a lot. The season is not over yet, but we felt like would could have won.”
Three of University’s five scoring players posted a score in the 70s on Monday. Dana Choi led the Trojans with a 2-under-par 72 followed by Samantha Cabunag, who fired an even-par 74, and freshman CoCo Yang, who posted a 75.
La Serna sophomore Briana Chacon earned medalist honors, shooting a 4-under-par 70. Beckman senior Cameron Lee led the county players at the tournament with a 71. Nadia Susanto also broke 80 for the Patriots, carding a 78. The Patriots did not advance out of this tournament last season.
“We are into the next round. That will work,” Beckman coach Cheyne Blair said. “This was the hardest test really, getting through this regional to the next stage because there are so many outstanding teams out here in this region. I feel good about our chances are Western Hills.”
Alyaa Abdulghnay’s chances of defending her CIF State championship ended on Monday as Corona del Mar tied for fifth with Long Beach Wilson after posting a 410. She also failed to make the cut in the CIF-SS Southern Individual Regional at Dad Miller, which leaves her out of Thursday’s CIF-SS Individual Championship/WSCGA team qualifier in Chino Hills.
Contact the writer: ddottore@scng.com
GIRLS GOLF RESULTS
CIF-SS Southern Team Divisional
At Lakewood Country Club, par 74
1. La Serna 381, 2. University 383, 3. Beckman 390, 4. Trabuco Hills 393, 5. Corona del Mar 410, 5. Long Beach Wilson 410, 7. Woodbridge 418, 8. Dana Hills 421, 8. Cerritos 421, 10. San Clemente 423, 11. Los Alamitos 424, 12. Valencia 427, 13. Huntington Beach 430, 14. Aliso Niguel 433, 15. Fountain Valley 450, 16. Tesoro 451, 17. Marina 455, 18. Northwood 471, 19. San Juan Hills 473, 20. Long Beach Millikan 489
