By MARTY JAMES martyjames.sports@gmail.com

Three Napa Valley College players concluded the 2023 women's golf season on Tuesday.

As individual qualifiers, Jill Obelleiro, Ping Yang and Ela Ashley wrapped up their freshmen seasons for the Storm by playing in the 2023 California Community College Athletic Association 3C2A Women's Golf State Championships Nov. 13-14 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course, in Paso Robles.

The two-day, 36-hole tournament had four teams from Northern California, four teams from Southern California, and those playing as individual qualifiers. Hunter Ranch is a par-72, 5,424-yard course. Play was from the Red tee markers.

Obelleiro had a big turnaround from Day 1, shooting a 7-over-par 79 in the second round and finishing tied for 25th in the field. Obelleiro, named All-Big 8 Conference during the regular season, shot 95-79 – 174.

Her score on Tuesday was the fourth-lowest round of the day.

"That was quite impressive. Just ripping her tee shots. She was a little tentative on Day 1, but on Day 2, we're just like, hey, take out the driver and hit it as far as you can," said Bob Freschi, Napa Valley's head coach. "She was hitting her irons solid. She struck the ball really well and played really, really well. Great golf and so proud of her."

Yang tied for 55th, shooting 97-105 – 202. Ashley tied for 58th, shooting 101-107 – 208.

Napa Valley's team season ended at the CCCAA Northern California Regional Championships, Nov. 6-7, at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland. The three Napa Valley players were among the seven individual qualifiers who advanced to state from the NorCal tournament.

"Very proud of the women in our program. We're very respectable," said Freschi. "Every year is different. Coming off the state team last season, we knew we were losing a lot of those golfers moving on. We knew it was going to be a challenge.

"The ladies believed in our program and our philosophy. It just takes time to develop and to put up a respectable score. They grind on their game. We talk about the process and not the result a lot. We talk about being able to execute the task at hand and what you're trying to accomplish. They all improved."

Obelleiro brought her score down big-time from the first round, as she had three birdies on her card.

She birdied the par-4 ninth hole, as she hit a hybrid off the tee, followed by a 9-iron from 115 yards. She made the putt for birdie from 15 feet.

She birdied the par-3 14th hole, hitting 7-iron to 18 feet and making the putt.

She also birdied the par-5, 15th hole, hitting a hybrid off the tee, followed by a 5-iron and then a pitching wedge. She made the 15-foot downhill putt for birdie.

"She was very ecstatic. She learned a lot these past two days," said Freschi. "She jumped up that leaderboard. To shoot in the 70s on that course, in those conditions, is quite an accomplishment.

"She learned a lot from the first day. You've got to be able to manage your mental frame of mind, your mindset. When things start getting away is when you have got to dial it back in.

"To see what she did on Day 2 was quite impressive. She's one of the top golfers in the state."

College of the Canyons-Santa Clarita won the state team title, shooting 340-320 – 660.

It was the fifth state title for Canyons.

In second was Mt. San Antonio College-Walnut, which shot 348-326 – 674.

Tying for third place was Modesto Junior College, 337-338 – 675, and Reedley College, 337-338 – 675.

In fifth was Moorpark College, 346-345 – 691.

In sixth was Sierra College-Rocklin, 339-358 – 697.

In seventh was Fullerton College, 354-347 – 701.

In eighth was Sacramento City College, 369-349 – 718. Isabelle Olivas-Lowell of Citrus College-Glendora was the low individual medalist, shooting 69-79 – 148.

The top six players earned All-State honors.

Taking second was Motoko Shimoji of Canyons, 73-76 – 149.

In third was Kylie Lau of Mt. San Antonio, 77-76 – 153.

Tying for fourth were Kiana Glossner of Cuyamaca College-Rancho San Diego, 80-75 – 155, and Ethel Asequia of Reedley, 77-78 – 155.

Tying for sixth was Cathilyn Lee of Fullerton, 77-79 – 156, and Lehapi Taungahihifo of College of the Desert-Palm Desert, 77-79 – 156.

Lee was named All-State

The average score for the second round was 88.3.

It's around the greens where Yang and Ashley need to tighten up their game, said Freschi.

"They just had a blast and were excited to be at the state championship," said Freschi. "In their group, they hung in there. They both strike the ball well. Now, it's just carrying over what they learned at the states and moving forward, to improve their game and how to make sure they get back to the states the next year."

Desiree Berdiago and Mya Brooks are also on the NVC team as sophomores and played two years for the Storm. Freschi thanked them for their commitment to the program and all the work they put in over the two years.

"I can't say enough great things about both our sophomores, Desiree and Mya," he said.

"It was a great season, with great team camaraderie. We had a good time. They'll remember the road trips and they'll remember some of their golf as the years move on. It's more the camaraderie and the process of getting better and thriving in a situation to be successful."

The Storm played in 10 Big 8 Conference tournaments during the 2023 fall season.

* 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.