Women's Golf
ARROYO GRANDE – The Modesto Junior College women’s golf team captured its second state title in the past five years by overcoming a four-stroke deficit and turning it into a nine-stroke win on the Cypress Ridge Golf Club course on Monday.
The Pirates, who won their first state title in women’s golf in 2017, trailed Southern California regional champion Saddleback (Mission Viejo) by four strokes after the first day of competition on Sunday. Saddleback posted a four-person team score of 314 while Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa) was a stroke back at 315 and Modesto was four strokes back at 318. But Madison Blanc carded a 2-under-par 70 and Janea Caparros added a 1-under-par 71 to help Modesto erase the deficit and post a tournament-best, one-day team score of 307. Modesto finished with a two-day team total of 625.
Saddleback, which saw improved scores from Amber Davalos (76) and Lia Harvey (83) on the second day, slipped a bit with a team score of 320 and a two-day total of 634. Also slipping was Southern California regional runner-up Orange Coast which had three players post scores in the 70’s on the first day but only Stephanie Tran (76) reached that level on day two. Orange Coast’s second day total of 334 gave the Pirates a 649 tournament score, dropping them down to fourth place.
Arelene Salvador (Antelope Valley)
Taking advantage of the Orange Coast slide was Northern California regional champion Reedley. The Tigers struggled as a team on the first day to a 332 score but Avery Foster’s 1-over-par 73 kept her team from falling out of contention. Foster posted a 4-under-par 68 on Monday and five Tiger players improved upon their first-day scores to help the team to a score of 313 on Monday and 645 for the tournament, edging out Orange Coast for third place.
Antelope Valley College (Lancaster) has its first women’s golf individual state champion as Arlene Salvador posted a 4-under-par 68 on the first day and added a 1-under-par 71 on the second day for a two-day total of 139. Reedley’s Foster was the individual runner-up at 141 with Modesto’s Blanc finishing third at 143. The top six was rounded out by Lehapi Taungahihifo of College of the Desert (Palm Desert) who shot a 149 (74-75), Carlee Stevens of Santa Barbara City College who posted a 150 (76-74), and Chelsey Gutierrez of Fullerton College who carded a 152 (77-75). These top six players earned medals and all-state honors.