NVC women’s golf team places in Big 8 Conference tournaments
It was a busy week with a lot of travel for the Napa Valley College women’s golf team.
On Tuesday, October 12, the Storm made the trip to the Bing Maloney Golf Complex in Sacramento.
On Thursday, October 14, the Storm was back on the road, this time going to Kings River Golf & Country Club in Kingsburg (Fresno County).
“Two different matches this past week,” Napa Valley coach Bob Freschi said of the Big 8 Conference tournaments.
Napa Valley, led by Alexis Larsen, shot a season-low 317 total and finished in second place at Bing Maloney. Larsen posted a career-low round, shooting an even-par 72 and leading the Storm in the five-team field. Larsen tied for second place individually.
“Alexis shooting even par was great for her and great to see,” said Freschi. “She is the utmost competitor.”
Shireen Pervez and Sophie Saleh also posted career-low rounds, with Pervez shooting 80 and Saleh an 82.
Jalyn Robinson had an 83.
Makayla Kearney had a non-scoring 86 and Kandy Miller had a non-scoring 106.
Modesto Junior College, with four players posting rounds in the 70s, finished first in the team scoring with a 297 total.
San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton had a 349 total and Sierra College-Rocklin had a 352 total.
Sacramento City College did not post a team score.
“It was really nice to see. Alexis, Shireen and Sophie had their career lows,” said Freschi.
“For each one of them, we emphasize setting up for the next shot. They really executed our game plan going in. (Bing Maloney) had some tough greens. They just executed around the greens really well.
“We were so excited when they came in after 18. Sophie was really excited during the round. I’m like, ‘Hey, there’s a lot of golf left, so keep focused.’ Sophie was really striking the ball well off the tee and really was good around the greens.”
NVC continued its season, playing at Kings River Golf & Country Club in Kingsburg.
The Storm finished fifth in a field of eight teams. The Storm posted a 381 team score.
Larsen finished fourth individually, shooting an 83.
Larsen was followed by Kearney, 97; Saleh, 100; Robinson, Pervez and Miller, each at 101.
“It’s just one of those days, where it’s just tough to travel and play, and come on back home, but we survived it,” said Freschi.
“We battled. We hung in there and did our best. That’s all you can ask for.”
Modesto was first in the team scoring, with a 323 total.
Also in the field was Reedley College, 352; San Joaquin Delta, 372; Sierra, 374; and Taft, 420.
Sacramento City and Fresno City did not post team scores.
NVC is the host of the Big 8 Conference No. 8 tournament on Tuesday, October 19 at Chardonnay Golf Club & Vineyards in American Canyon at 12 p.m.
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.