Vu wins Bruins Invitational with tournament record

LONG BEACH - Torrance senior Anne Cheng is among the top 35 players in the nation in Golfweek’s Sagarin rankings, and Los Alamitos senior Esther Lee just represented the United States at the Junior Ryder Cup

But a sophomore from Fountain Valley beat them both Monday at Recreation Park Golf Course. And she did it with relative ease.

Lilia Vu, the reigning CIF-SS Individual Champion, holed six birdies and two eagles to win the Long Beach Wilson Bruins Invitational with a tournament record 10-under-par 64.

It was also Vu’s best finish in relation to par, eclipsing the 7-under she had at Mission Hills at the Pete Dye course during a Junior Scoreboard tournament. 

Her 64 on Monday put her six shots clear of Cheng and Lee, who both tied for second with a 4-under 70. Cheng was awarded second place, however, in a card-off because she posted a 34 on the back nine. Lee carded a 35.

Cheng’s Tartars won the team competition with a 306. Mater Dei finished second, five shots behind, followed by Troy, which fired a 313. Sophomore Jakeishya Le led the Monarchs, shooting a 2-over-par 76.

The Tartars were the only team in the tournament to have two players finish under par as freshman Nina Novilla posted a 2-under-par 72 to finish fourth in the Individual competition, two shots behind Cheng. Peninsula’s Paige Fujihara finished fifth with a 1-under-par 73.

Vu won the CIF-SS Southern Individual Regional here last season by three strokes and when you add that score to her 64 on Monday, she’s a combined 14-under-par in those 36 holes.

“It is really easy for me to read the break in the greens here,” she said. “I have improved on my putting a lot (from last season), and I am hitting the ball straighter. I am much more consistent.”

This was the first time Lee had touched a golf club since she played in a friendship match at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club during the Junior Ryder Cup, so she wasn’t too disappointed with the 70. She did, however, leave more than a few putts out on the course, watching five consecutive birdies lip out.

“That I am disappointed with,” she said. “But overall, I played pretty good.”

Three of the five Monarchs who played on Monday posted a score in the 70s on Monday – Jakeishya and Janneinne Le and Marcella Pranovia – and they become the first county team to finish ahead or Troy this season.

“It could have been a better score today. We had some three putts and some makeable putts that we didn’t make,” Mater Dei coach Ollie Martin said. “It is just shoring up the short game. The girls ball striking and course management are excellent. We have played some really good golf this year.”

RESULTS

At Recreation Park Golf Course, Long Beach, par 74, 5,900 yards

TEAM

1. Torrance 306, 2. Mater Dei 311, 3. Troy 313, 4. Palm Desert 320, 5t. Fountain Valley 331, 5t. Long Beach Wilson, 331, 7. San Clemente 339, 8. Los Alamitos 340, 9. Orange Lutheran 345, 10. Aliso Niguel 348, 11. University 350, 12. Cerritos 353, 13. South Torrance 357

14. San Juan Hills 361, 15. Santa Margarita 362, 16. Long Beach Poly 363, 17t. Marina 364, 17t. Peninsula 364, 19. Ayala 381, 20. Esperanza 421, 21. Brea Olinda, No Score

INDIVIDUALS

1. Lilia Vu (Fountain Valle) 64, 2. Anne Cheng (Torrance) 70*, 3. Esther Lee (Los Alamitos) 70, 4. Nina Novilla (Torrance) 72, 5. Paige Fujihara (Peninsula) 73, 6. Raim Mackenizie (Palm Desert) 74, 7t. Amy Lee (Brea Olinda) 75, 7t. Ysabel Tran (Troy) 75, 9. Jakeishya Le (Mater Dei) 76, 10t. Janneinne Le (Mater Dei) 77, 10t. Alex Cooper (San Clemente) 77, 10t. Alicia Arzaga (Long Beach Wilson) 77, 10t. Michelle Yom (South Torrance) 77