SBCC sophomore Carolin Chang fired a 1-under 73 to take the lead in the first round of the 36-hole Southern Cal Regional women's golf tournament at Los Serranos CC in Chino Hills.
Chang, the WSC Player of the Year and defending state champion, was 3-under after nine holes on the 6,082-yard South Course. She finished with four birdies.
Michaela Blundt of Antelope Valley was second at 75 and SBCC's Vanessa Watkins is third at 76.
The Vaqueros, 88-0 on the year and top-ranked in the state, find themselves in unfamiliar territory. After 18 holes, they're in second place for the first time this year with 326 strokes. Cuyamaca of El Cajon is first at 319 in the six-team field and Irvine Valley is third at 353. The top four teams will advance to the State Finals on Nov. 13-14 at Morro Bay GC.
Savanah Boss added an 86 for the defending state champion Vaqueros, who won last year's state title by 27 strokes over Citrus. The Vaqueros are 168-6 in the last two seasons.
"It's the first time we've been behind all year but it's a two-day tourney," noted SBCC coach Chuck Melendez. "We played pretty well, although we leaked a little on the back nine. Carolin was 3-under at the turn and Vanessa was 2-under.
"The bottom line is we have to play better as a team tomorrow to win the Regional."
The final round of the Regional will be played on Tuesday on the North Course of Los Serranos, starting at 9 a.m.
Southern Cal Regional
1st round at par-74 Los Serranos (South Course)
Team -- 1, Cuyamaca 319. 2, SBCC 326. 3, Irvine Valley 353. 4, Saddleback 360. 5, Desert 366. 6, Citrus 396.
Medalist – 1, Carolin Chang, SBCC, 73. 2, Michaela Klundt, Antelope Valley, 75. 3, Vanessa Watkins, SBCC, 76.
SBCC scores – 1, Chang 73. 3, Watkins 76. Savanah Boss 86, Danielle Picard 91, Corina Garcia 98, Daniela Ruffo 99.
