GCC takes fourth place

GLENDALE — Entering the program’s third season, Glendale Community College women’s golf Coach Kirt Kohlmeier had high expectations that included possibly contending for a Western State Conference championship.

Those hopes quickly faded after Kohlmeier found out that his top three players — Brittney Gonzales, Alexa Petroski and Cristina Pasquariello — were declared academically ineligible. Now, he’s in the process of breaking in a new lineup that competed in the first conference match of the season Monday at the River Course at the Alisal in Solvang.

Glendale college finished fourth with a 435 in the five-team event.

It fielded a team that many wouldn’t have expected to be playing this early in the season.

“We are going to do the best we can with what we’ve got,” said Kohlmeier, who saw Gonzales fall one stroke short of competing in the State Tournament last season. “Hopefully, the three who are ineligible can get their things together because I’m disappointed with what happened.

“We did the best we could today on a very tough course, and that’s all I can ask for right now. This is basically my class for next year, and I have to throw them into the fire in order to field a team. At least their grades are fine and they want to play.”

Hayoun Seo carded a 51-over-par 124 to lead the Vaqueros (1-3).

Bakersfield College won the event with a 345, followed by Santa Barbara City College (348) and College of the Canyons (367). Citrus College took fifth, but had no score.

Glendale college will host the next conference match, which will begin at 11:30 a.m. Monday at Oakmont Country Club.

“We are excited because I feel like we have the best course in California,” Kohlmeier said. “We can’t wait for the other teams to come here and see our course because it will open up eyes with respect to our program.

“We’re not going to give up. We may not be the best team, but we’re going to keep trying.”