One stroke decided this year’s Foothill League girls golf Player of the Year.
West Ranch High’s Mack Bailey finished the season with an overall score of 182 after Wednesday’s Foothill League match No. 6 at TPC Valencia. Her teammate Ashley Mayhall finished at 183.
“It’s all good fun because we’re good friends, but it was close this year,” Mayhall said.
The Wildcats took first as a team Wednesday to secure their fifth Foothill League title in the last six years. Bailey shot a 6-over 42 to open the door for Mayhall, who entered the day three strokes back (highest score thrown out).
PHOTOS: Foothill League match No. 6
Mayhall shot a 1-under 35, but when Bailey threw out her highest score (the 42), it left her just ahead of Mayhall.
Wednesday was also the second and final day of the annual Newhall Cup, which Mayhall was the individual champion of.
“(Finishing second) was bittersweet because it was by one stroke, but that’s golf,” she said. “It was a lot of fun being able to pull through with the Newhall Cup and get a bit of reward for all my hard work.”
West Ranch shot a 210 on the day, 31 strokes ahead of Valencia (241), which finished second for the year (78 strokes behind the Cats overall).
Golden Valley’s Justine Reblando came in second individually Wednesday at 4-over and third place was a three-way tie between Valencia’s Sarah Baranda, West Ranch’s Mack Bailey and Hunter Petretti at 6-over.
The Newhall Cup individual competition, which was nine holes Tuesday and 18 on Wednesday, saw Mayhall finish with a score of 113, followed by Bailey’s 115 and West Ranch’s Noelle Song’s 122. Reblando was fourth at 125.
“We cheer each other on,” said Bailey of the tight competition between players. “We make sure that everyone’s head is up. And if they play badly, we cheer them up not put down anyone or be excited because they’re losing.”
West Ranch and Valencia advanced to the CIF team playoffs, while third-place-overall Golden Valley ended up with too few qualifying scores.
The Wildcats and Vikings will compete on Oct. 31 at Los Serranos Golf Course in Chino Hills.
“We’re just hoping our four through six players put up the numbers we need to move on,” Bailey said. “The top three need to play their usual. But we really need our four through six players to pull through. But it all comes with practice. So we’re just going to practice and hopefully we can move on.”
The Newhall Cup team standings were the same as the final league standings, with the Wildcats in first (416), the Vikings in second (466) and the Grizzlies in third (519).
A tricky rough and strong winds caused difficulties for players of all skill levels.
“There were definitely some challenges out there,” Mayhall said. “A lot of girls lost their balls because it was so thick. There were like, 10 gone.
“… But everyone had to play in (the wind). It was a little twist in today’s match. Everyone fought through it.”
The top seven finishers on the season will play in the CIF Individual Championship on Oct. 24 at River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard.
Those golfers, from lowest scoring to highest, are: Bailey, Mayhall, Song, Reblando, Baranda, Ashley Song (Valencia) and Clara Venger (Saugus).
Last year, Mayhall didn’t make it out of the first CIF individual round, while Bailey made it to the third round and missed the state competition by one stroke.
Foothill League team standings
(Final)
1.) West Ranch, 1,021*
2.) Valencia, 1,099*
3.) Golden Valley, 1,218
4.) Saugus, 1,235
5.) Hart, 1,274
6.) Canyon, 1,375
*CIF playoff qualifier
Foothill League individual standings
(Final, top 7 make CIF individuals)
1.) Mack Bailey (West Ranch) 182
2.) Ashley Mayhall (West Ranch) 183
3.) Noelle Song (West Ranch) 195
4.) Justine Reblando (Golden Valley) 200
5.) Sarah Baranda (Valencia) 204
6.) Ashley Song (Valencia) 206
7.) Clara Venger (Saugus) 214
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8.) Amanda Pape (Valencia) 216
9.) Shabana Poswal (Canyon) 222
10.) Natalie Souther (Valencia) 225