GLENDALE — Scratch the successful bid for a repeat.
A year ago, the Crescenta Valley High girls’ golf team unexpectedly won the CIF Southern Section Central Team Divisional. It proved to be one of the significant highlights for the Falcons after winning the Pacific League crown for the first time in the program’s history.
This year, the Falcons won another league championship. However, they could not repeat their accomplishment at the team divisional Monday morning.
Crescenta Valley saw its season conclude with a seventh-place finish at the tournament, which was held at Menifee Lakes Country Club in Riverside County. The Falcons finished seventh with a score of 447 in the 21-team tournament, which featured 126 players.
Glendale resident Sarah Salvo finished third overall in the Northern Team Divisional at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard on Monday. Unfortunately for Salvo, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame finished 17th out of 20 squads.
The top four squads from each divisional next compete in the CIF Southern Section Team Finals at Dove Canyon Country Club in Orange County on Nov. 5.
Christine Cho of Crescenta Valley finished second in the tournament, as she carded a one-under-par 71. The Harvard University-bound Cho had four birdies, 11 pars and three bogeys on the 5,600-yard course.
Cho didn’t receive much help from her teammates. Sophomore Katie Park, who won her first individual league championship Oct. 17 at Brookside Golf Course No. 1 in Pasadena, had an 83.
Crescenta Valley’s third, fourth and fifth players shot no better than 96, something that led to the Falcons attempt to repeat evaporating.
“Christine and Katie needed to be in the 70’s, and the rest had to be in the 80’s for a chance to win it again,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Ken Johnson, whose team got 96s from Sally Chun and Michelle Cho and a 101 from Krizia Del Rosario. “Had we done that, we probably would have even been in the top four and moved on.
“They just didn’t feel comfortable for some reason. Some of them were on, and some of them struggled. At least we survived staying in the top third of the tournament.”
Joy Trotter of Ayala won the tournament with a 70 to help her team win the tournament with a 401. Los Altos (412) finished second, followed by Newport Harbor (427) and Long Beach Wilson (429).
Notre Dame, which won its sixth consecutive Mission League championship Wednesday at Woodley Golf Course in Encino, couldn’t ride its crest of momentum Monday. The Knights had a team score of 509.
Salvo, a senior, did her part by taking third with a three-over-par 75 at the Ventura County course.
Powerhouse Dos Pueblos finished first (402), followed by Diamond Bar (420), Hart (421) and La Reina (438).
Salvo, who won three individual league titles outright and shared another, finished with three birdies.
“I didn’t leave anything short with my putting,” said Salvo, who finished behind champion Danielle Gillaspy of Santa Maria St. Joseph (72) and Oxnard’s Janelle Song (74). “I made some birdie putts, and I still need to continue to focus on my putting and chipping.”
Cho, Park and Salvo will next participate at 8 a.m. Thursday at the CIF Southern Section Northern Individual, which will take place at the River Course at the Alisal in Solvang.
