Robert Louis Stevenson junior Mina Harigae staged a dazzling
individual performance Monday but it was Santa Catalina that took
team honors in the Tri-County Athletic League girls’ golf
tournament at Salinas Country Club.
Robert Louis Stevenson junior Mina Harigae staged a dazzling individual performance Monday but it was Santa Catalina that took team honors in the Tri-County Athletic League girls’ golf tournament at Salinas Country Club.
Harigae, the No. 2 junior golfer in the country, birdied three of her last six holes and finished at 6-under-par 66 to easily take medalist honors. Her teammate, Jam Vilairatana, had the second best score at 75.
“I’ve been doing this for eight years and she’s the best I’ve seen,” said Live Oak golf coach Mike Rubino, the TCAL representative, of Harigae.
Santa Catalina, however, had the better overall balance. With senior Eleana Collins shooting 76, sophomore Ariana Patterson following at 79 and the other girls breaking 90, the Cougars placed first with 330. RLS was second at 343.
San Benito was third at 371 with three of its girls breaking 90. Leading the way was junior Marissa Gutierrez at 83. Junior Amanda Frey, who missed last season with a back injury and most of this season with a ruptured tendon in her left thumb, shot 89. Senior Ashley Bushaw, who missed qualifying last year by a single stroke, also shot 79.
“Our goal was that every girl went out trying to qualify as an individual because obviously as a team it was a real challenge,” Haybalers’ coach Chris Branon said. “I’m proud of the girls. They worked hard. They are a very special team.”
It took 98 to qualify for individuals, and Gilroy senior Annie Cockerill finished right at the number to join 11 others who will compete with the Santa Catalina team at the Central Coast Section tournament at 8am Oct. 31 at Rancho Canada Golf Club, Carmel.
Freshman Haley Andreas from Pacific Grove posted the fifth best score of the day at 81. Her teammates, Karina Valencia (88) and Lauren Piland (94) were other individual qualifiers. Notre Dame’s Christie Finn (88) and Meghan Garcia (91) rounded out the individual qualifiers.
The top three teams using the five best scores and top four individuals who are not members of a qualifying team will advance from the 18-hole CCS competition to the CIF Nor-Cal Regional Championships Nov. 6 at Yolo Fliers Country Club in Woodland.
n TCAL Golf Tournament
At Salinas Country Club
Santa Catalina (330)-Eleana Collins 76, Ariana Patterson 79, Courtney Mazzei 86, Ryan Tuttle 89.
Robert Louis Stevenson (343)-Mina Harigae 66, Jam Vilairatana 75, Justine Oh 97, Katy Yu 105.
San Benito (371)- Marissa Gutierrez 83, Ashley Bushaw 89, Amanda Frey 89, Nydia Martinez 110.
Pacific Grove (377)-Haley Andreas 81, Karina Valencia 88, Lauren Piland 94, Keely Scates 114.
Salinas (389)-Taylor Dominguez 94, Keegan Dominguez 97, Taylor Camany 99, Clancie Agee 99.
Notre Dame (398)-Christie Finn 88, Meghan Garcia 91, Corrie Turnbull 106, Elizabeth Blatter 113.
Gilroy (455)-Annie Cockerill 98, Rowena Tabilas 115, Stephanie Walker 120, Katie Kishimura 122.
Monte Vista Christian (461)-Katelyn Ingersoll 105, Jigna Panchal 112, Sophia Hyun 120, Sewon Na 124, Jina Park 133.
Watsonville (490)-Jazmine Ancira 108, Jasmine Martinez 119, Krystal Martinez 126, Julieta Ortiz 137.
Live Oak (556)-Katie Delman 111, Kate Lowry 136, Shelbie Ipsen 146, Elise LaPorte 163.
