NVC's Lowe ties for 36th, Vynielo places 50th at state women's golf
By MARTY JAMES
Napa Valley College sophomores Jordan Lowe and Baylee Vynielo each played in their final tournament for Napa Valley College by placing at the 2019 California Community College Athletic Association Women's Golf State Championship on Monday at Morro Bay Golf Course.
Lowe, a Vacaville High School graduate who has played in the No. 1 spot all season for the Storm, had one of the lowest rounds of the day, shooting 80, a season-low score.
Lowe, playing in her second straight CCCAA state finals, finished the two-day, 36-hole tournament in a tie for 36th place. Lowe opened with a 96 in the first round on Sunday. She had a 176 total.
Vynielo, a graduate of Analy High School in Sebastopol, placed 50th. Vynielo shot 91 on Sunday and had a 94 on Monday, completing the event with a 185 total.
"To go out and have your career end at Morro Bay and to have this experience that they went through is phenomenal," NVC coach Bob Freschi said. "I'm so glad and happy for them. A lot of golfers in the state of California. To be the best of the best is great. Baylee and Jordan going out the way they did today was pretty special."
Morro Bay Golf Course is a par-72, 5,378-yard layout in San Luis Obispo County.
Lowe made a significant jump, moving from 52nd place after the first round. She tied for the 11th lowest round of the day on Monday, in a field of 60 players.
"They both played really well today," said Freschi. "Jordan had an 80 – that was a great bounce back for her to end her Storm career. She had a really beautiful round. She was driving the ball really well off the tee and then her chipping and putting was much better today. She played really well.
"Great attitude. She competed. She competed against the course and against her opponents. It showed. An excellent round.
"Baylee competed and had a great time out there and really enjoyed herself. It was fun to watch."
The second and final round had a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
The top six individuals are awarded All-State honors, the CCCAA announced.
There was a card-off for individual medalist honors and also a card-off for fifth place, the CCCAA said.
Lowe advanced to state as the third individual qualifier at the two-day, 36-hole Northern California Regional Championships, played earlier in the month at Ridge Creek Dinuba Golf Club in Tulare County.
Vynielo advanced to state with an at-large berth. She finished as the fifth individual and as the first alternate at NorCals, shooting 92-93 – 185 for Napa Valley.
An injury to a player from Sierra College (Rocklin) opened the door for Vyenielo to continue her season, Freschi said.
Haruka Koda of College of the Canyons (Santa Clarita) was the individual medalist, shooting 70-74 – 144.
Koda has had an outstanding year, earning MVP honors of the Western State Conference and finishing as the individual medalist at the CCCAA Southern California Regional Championship, played at Via Verde Country Club in San Dimas.
Jessie Linn of College of the Canyons was second, with scores of 71-73 – 144.
Katie Stribling of Saddleback College (Mission Viejo) was third, 75-71 – 146; Pratima Sherpa of Santa Barbara City was fourth, 74-74 – 148; Melanie Anderson of Sierra (Rocklin) placed fifth, 76-75 – 151; Paige Heuer of Canyons was sixth, 77-74 – 151; Monica Yu of Reedley was seventh, 74-77 – 151; Lilyanna Rodriguez of College of the Desert (Palm Desert) was eighth, 79-77 – 156; and tying for ninth was Samantha Smedshammer of Modesto, 74-83 – 157, and Precious Saelee of Mt. San Antonio (Walnut), 75-82 – 157.
College of the Canyons, the first-round team leader, won its second straight CCCAA title, shooting 305-304 – 609.
The team scoring is based on four player's scores.
Canyons was followed by Reedley (320-328 – 648), Modesto (323-334 – 657), Saddleback (331-330 – 661), Sierra (330-332 – 662), Desert (338-325 – 663), Santa Barbara (326-342 – 668), and San Joaquin Delta of Stockton (373-374 – 747).
Lowe placed 33rd at state last year, with rounds of 86 and 84 for a 170 total. She was named to the All-Big 8 Conference team as a freshman.
* Marty James is a freelance writer who makes his home in Napa. He retired on June 4, 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, Associated Press Sports Editors, and California Prep Sports Media 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.