Valencia High School girls’ golf secured a top 10 finish in the CIF-SS Division 1 Team Championships on Monday at the Los Serranos golf course in Chino Hills and advanced to the qualifying tournament for the Southern State Regional Championship, set to be held on Thursday.
For the first time in program history, this season’s Valencia team advances to the Sectionals round.
The Vikings carded a total team result of 394 (+24) and finished seventh out of 22 top teams in the Southern Section.
“There were some very solid teams competing, so for us to finish in the top 10 and advance, it’s quite the accomplishment,” Valencia coach Robert Waters said. “This is the first time in Valencia High School girls’ golf history to have a team advance to Sectionals. Quite a few alumni have reached out congratulating this team, which is neat.”
Eliana Saga led the team once again and did so earning the co-medalist honors out of the top golfers in the region.
Saga carded a 67 (-7) on the course and the performance was the second time this year she finished 7 under par.
“Her game is just so consistent and when she’s rolling the ball well, she goes very low,” Waters said. “It was so great to see her back to her old self after a long week prior.”
Last week, Saga competed in Bahrain for the Asia Youth Games and flew back to the U.S. on the morning of the Individual Regionals.
As for Kara An, when she approached the final three holes, she was 5-under-par and hit three straight bogeys and finished the day 72 (-2).
Lauren Silva finished 85 (+11) alongside Leeanne Park and Kiara Jang. And Ken Silva carded a 94 (+20) to round out the team.
“It’s always a challenge seeing a new course. Different types of grass, different layouts,” Waters said in response to the difficulties the course presented. “Every playing field presents its own unique challenges. Los Serranos was in solid shape, and I think the extra par 5’s in the layout helped our longer hitters take advantage.”
With the seventh-place finish, Valencia advanced and was the only Foothill league team to move forward as West Ranch participated but finished 21st.
After Monday’s competition, Valencia plays again on Thursday and, despite the short turnaround, Waters believes that his team hasn’t played its best golf yet.
“We’ll head down and get a look at the course the day before,” he said. “The girls are excited to get back out on the course and compete. As a team, we feel like we have yet to play our very best golf so Thursday will be a great opportunity.”
Valencia girls’ golf is scheduled to tee off on Thursday 8 a.m. at the Temecula Creek golf course in Temecula, with an opportunity to qualify for the Southern State Regional Championship.
