By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

Coach Bob Freschi said it was a "rough day" for the Napa Valley College women's golf team as the Storm opened the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association's Northern California Regional Championships at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland on Monday.

The Storm is in fifth place after shooting a 388-team total in the first round.

"We need to definitely get better than we did today," said Freschi.

Jill Obelleiro led the Storm with an 89.

Yolo Fliers is a par-72, 5,300-yard course.

"They were upset after the round. Once our score went up, they're like, OK, we've got to be better (Tuesday)," said Freschi.

Today is the second round of the two-day, 36-hole event, which has eight teams. Play begins at 12 p.m. It's a modified shotgun start.

"We had a team meeting after the scores were posted," said Freschi. "They all had some bad lies, some bad breaks – just one of those days for us as a team. We did get ourselves into trouble. We didn't execute when we got into the trees. We kind of stayed in the trees. We compounded mistakes. So, we talked about it – just get it back in the fairway. if you're going to do a punch shot, make sure you get it underneath the tree branches. Their punch shots were a little bit high and they were in the rough.

"You've got to play solid golf. A couple of holes got away from us and then putting as well.

"It was a combination of things. We just didn't play well. The conditions were tough. It was windy, so a lot of shots were into the wind. They left themselves with some tough shots, getting on to the green.

"But nonetheless, we did have some poorly executed shots. That's what we have got to eliminate, and eliminate the three putts." Also, for the Storm, it was Ping Yang, 97; Ela Ashley, 100; Mya Brooks, 102; Desiree Berdiago, 104.

Only the top four teams, and six individuals outside of those teams, will advance from the two-day, 36-hole NorCals to the CCCAA State Championships, Nov. 13-14 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles.

Modesto Junior College is in first place with a 319-team score. Jordan Williams opened with a 2-over-par 74 for Modesto and Mikaella Manto had a 78.

In second place, with a 331-team score, is Reedley College. Ethel Asequia opened with a 1-over-par 73 for Reedley.

In third place is Sierra College-Rocklin at 351.

In fourth place is Sacramento City College at 371.

San Joaquin Delta College-Stockton is in sixth place, at 390.

Taft College and Fresno City College are in the field, with two players from each team.

The top three teams will receive awards.

Freschi said he talked to the team about having a better commitment to each hole, with one round to go.

"We left with a good mindset," he said.

Freschi also talked to the players about a "golden opportunity" to earn a spot at state as individuals.

"It's not going to be given to you. You've got to work for it. You've got to grind for it. You've got to compete. Each and every one of you has that opportunity to be in the top six, as an individual to go," he said.

"It's going to come down to the back nine (Tuesday). If you want something, you've got to go get it and compete for it. It's all ahead of them for (Tuesday). Now just execute, have a good time, and stick with our process.

"Hopefully, we have that ability to play better (Tuesday) and send some lady Storm golfers to the state championship."

Yolo Fliers Club, founded in 1919, is a private golf club, with the course recognized by the U.S. Golf Association and Northern California Golf Association as a championship venue, according to its website, yolofliers.com.

* 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.