Top-20 state finish for Napa Valley’s Alexis Larsen
Alexis Larsen completed her freshman season of golf for Napa Valley College with a top-20 finish at the California Community College Athletic Association Women’s Golf Championships on Monday.
After shooting an 81 in the first round on Sunday, November 14, Larsen returned and posted a final round 83 at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande on Monday, November 15.
Larsen, named All-Big 8 Conference and All-Northern California for the Storm, finished 18th in the state, to cap an outstanding first season of college golf.
“To the finish in the Top-20, so proud of her and so excited,” Napa Valley coach Bob Freschi said.
“It was a great experience for her and a great season, to make All-Conference, All-NorCal and now Top-20 in the state, and to go low 80s.
“Just a great competitor.”
Larsen completed the two-day, 36-hole event at 164.
She shot 43 on her front nine and with a par on the 18th hole, finished the back nine with a 40 in the final round. She made a 25-foot putt to birdie a par-3 hole during the round, which became even more challenging due to the weather.
Cypress Ridge Golf Course, a Peter Jacobsen Signature course, “is an award winning golf course located on the Central Coast of California. Located in Arroyo Grande, Cypress Ridge has a beautiful course layout that has many elevation changes, ocean views, and stunning Cypress trees,” according to www.cypressridge.com.
“Today was a grind,” said Freschi. “It was beautiful for our front nine and then the fog came and it got a little windy and foggy. Conditions were tough on the back nine. She really played well on the back nine in those conditions. She really had to work for what she got.”
Larsen parred the finishing hole, hitting driver, 5-wood to the left of the green, and reaching the green with a wedge shot. She two-putted from 12 feet.
“Great par and just a great round,” said Freschi. “What a great accomplishment for her freshman year and to have a year under your belt.
“It’s been fun to watch and really exciting, seeing the development of her game just get better and better.
“Really excited for her for next year. I know she’s going to work on her game. We’ve already talked about what she need to do in the springtime to get better and develop.”
Larsen was named All-Northern California after firing rounds of 87 and 84 for a 171 two-day total and placing among the top six individuals at the CCCAA Northern California Regional Championships at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland.
She advanced as an individual qualifier for the CCCAA Women’s Golf Championships.
Larsen was presented with a medal after completing the NorCal Regional Championships, a two-day, 36-hole event.
As a team, Napa Valley finished in fifth place.
Napa Valley finished in third place during the Big 8 Conference season.
Modesto Junior College won the state team title. It’s the Pirates’ second state championship in five years.
Modesto had a team total of 625 for the two-day, 36-hole event, and captured the title by a nine-shot margin.
The top six players received medals and all-state honors, according to a report by the California Community College Athletic Association at www.cccaasports.org
The individual champion and low medalist was Arlene Salvador of Antelope Valley-Lancaster. Salvador shot 68-71 – 139.
Avery Foster of Reedley was second (73-68 – 141) and Madison Blanc of Modesto was third (73-70 – 143).
Saddleback was second at 634.
Reedley was third at 645.
Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 2019 after spending 40 years as a sports writer, sports editor and executive sports editor for the Napa Valley Register, a daily newspaper in Napa County. He is a 1979 graduate of Sacramento State and a member of the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association. He was inducted into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in September of 2019. martyjames.sports@gmail.com