Chang fires 4-under 71 to lead Vaquero victory

Carolin Chang shoots a 4-under 71 and SBCC takes WSC No. 6 for its sixth tournament win. The freshman from Taiwan has shot par or better in 7 of 11 rounds and is averaging 72.5. (Photo by Dave Loveton)
Carolin Chang shoots a 4-under 71 and SBCC takes WSC No. 6 for its sixth tournament win. The freshman from Taiwan has shot par or better in 7 of 11 rounds and is averaging 72.5. (Photo by Dave Loveton)

Freshman Carolin Chang ran away with medalist honors on Monday, shooting a 4-under 71 to lead SBCC to victory in WSC No. 6 on a long Brookside #1 golf course in Pasadena.

Chang posted five birdies on the par-75, 6,372-yard layout to beat the runner-up, Lexandra So of Citrus, by seven shots. The Brookside course, located next to the Rose Bowl, has six par-5 holes, including three straight to open the back nine.

Chang has been the medalist four times this year and finished second in three other tourneys. She's shot par or better in seven of 11 rounds and her average is close to par (72.5).

Isabella Doub shot 85 for SBCC and Vanesa Villa carded an 86 in her first match since injuring her hand five weeks ago.

The Vaqueros (56-6) won their sixth tournament of the year with 331 strokes. Canyons was second at 336 and Citrus shot 339. There's now a three-way tie at the top of the WSC between SBCC, Citrus and Canyons, all with 24-6 records.

"It was a long and difficult course, you don't see too many par 75s," said coach Chuck Melendez. "Carolin did a great job of guiding us to victory. There were very few scores in the 70s today."

"It was nice to have Vanesa back in the lineup. She gives us another big gun up top and really helps our depth."

Moorpark will host No. 7 on Monday at Simi Hills GC.

WSC No. 6
At par-75 Brookside #1
 Team – 1, SBCC 331. 2, Canyons 336. 3, Citrus 339. 4, Moorpark 428. 5, Glendale 555. 6, Bakersfield, no score.
 Medalist – 1, Carolin Chang, SBCC, 71. 2, Lexandra So, Citrus, 78.
 SBCC scores – 1, Chang 71, Isabella Doub 85, Vanesa Villa 86, Danielle Picard 89, Miraya Ramirez 91, Natalya Cruz 94.
 WSC standings – 1 (tie), SBCC, Citrus, Canyons 24-6. 4, Moorpark 12-18. 5, Glendale 3-27. 6, Bakersfield 0-30.