SOLVANG, CALIF. – Coming off a second consecutive NorCal Championship, the Reedley College Women’s Golf team felt pretty good about their chances to grab the first state title in program history. Unfortunately, Mother Nature decided to dampen those expectations.
Thanks to a deluge of wet weather, the Tigers’ quest to claim the 3C2A State Golf Championship at the River Course at the Alisal on Nov. 16-17 got washed away in a sloppy dash. As a result, Reedley finished in a tie with Orange Coast College with team rounds of 323. Modesto Junior College finished one stroke back at 324.
The two-day, 36-hole event turned into a one-round, 18-hole disappointment as excessive rain left the fairways looking more like a running river rather than a golf course. And because of the relentless downpour that made the conditions of the course unplayable, tournament officials decided to shorten the event.
Both Reedley and Orange Coast teed off for the chance to claim state titles for the first time in their program’s histories. And while the weather rained on Reedley’s championship hopes, they didn’t exactly leave the match under a cloud of consternation.
The Tigers lost one tiebreaker, but won another as freshman Tessa Hernandez came away with the 3C2A Individual State Championship. Hernandez, who won the title in a card-off tiebreaker, defeated defending state champ Sahya Kitabatake from College of the Canyons, with both players shooting an even par score of 72 on Day 1.
“Honestly, I wasn’t really expecting it (the weather), so on the Friday before we came here, I went out and bought myself some rain gear,” said Hernandez in a statement to 3C2A sports. “My main goal was to keep my grips dry and keep a calm attitude…in this weather, it’s not something that will help you out.”
At the NorCal Championships, Hernandez finished in third place with a final score of 150 (78, 72). Fellow teammate Jacie Johnson was close behind with a final score of 154 (77, 77).
Marissa Martin and Sarah Randolph both placed eight and tenth places respectively. Martin finished at 161 (84,77) and Randolph carded a pair of 81s for a two-round total of 162.
The Tigers entered the state tournament as back-to-back NorCal Champions following their impressive, 17-shot margin victory against Modesto at the Madera Golf and Country Club Nov. 9-10. Reedley finished with a two round score of 644.
