Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

NVC women’s golf team places fifth at Big 8 Conference’s ninth tournament

The Napa Valley College women’s golf team, from left, Jill Obelleiro, Mya Brooks, Desiree Berdiago, Ela Ashley and Ping Yang, at Buena Vista Golf Course in Taft. (Courtesy photo)
The Napa Valley College women’s golf team, from left, Jill Obelleiro, Mya Brooks, Desiree Berdiago, Ela Ashley and Ping Yang, at Buena Vista Golf Course in Taft. (Courtesy photo)
Posted: Oct 23, 2023

 

By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

The Napa Valley College women's golf team turned in a fifth-place finish at the Big 8 Conference's ninth tournament of the fall season on Thursday, Oct. 19.

Jill Obelleiro led the Storm, posting an 84 at Buena Vista Golf Course in Taft. It's a par-72, 5,480-yard course.

Napa Valley had a 357-team score. There was a field of eight teams.

"The weather was tough. There was no breeze. It was just hot. The insects were bad. It wasn't pleasant for anybody. But we got through it," said NVC coach Bob Freschi.

Also, for the Storm, it was Ela Ashley, 90; Ping Yang, 91; Mya Brooks and Desiree Berdiago, each with 92s.

"It's tough to go down there and play. They hung in there and they had a real good attitude," said Freschi. "The power of positive self-talk and self-thought came into play (Thursday).

"Everybody was playing the same conditions. You just have got to keep marching on and play each shot at a time. The good old cliché – one hole at a time.

"I'm proud of them getting through it. It's a challenge."

Taking first place in the tournament was Reedley College with a 331-team score.

Next was Sierra College-Rocklin at 333, followed by Modesto Junior College at 336 and Sacramento City College at 344.

San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton was at 404.

Taft College and Fresno City College tied for last, as they did not post team scores.

Napa Valley plays in the Big 8 Conference's 10th and final tournament of the fall season on Thursday, Oct. 26 at Turlock Golf & Country Club.

* 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, the Vintage High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.