Koda edges Farouze for WSC title; Vaqueros finish second

Haruka Koda of Canyons shot a final-round 76 on Monday to edge SBCC's Stephanie Farouze by a stroke and claim the WSC women's golf title at the Alisal River Course in Solvang.

Koda shot 75 and 76 for a 36-hole total of 7-over 151. Farouze carded 69 and 83 for a two-day total of 152. Jessie Lin of Canyons and Georgia Shevitt of Moorpark tied for third at 155.

"Stephanie struggled out there today," said coach Chuck Melendez. "I think she was trying to hold on to the lead and not playing aggressively. Finishing second in the WSC is still a great accomplishment."

Alexa Bleth tied Farouze for low team honors with an 83 and placed seventh in the WSC Finals at 166. Corina Garcia (85-84) and Lauren Calvin (83-86) tied for ninth at 169.

Farouze and Calvin were named to the All-WSC team, based on season scoring averages. Koda, who won five of the nine WSC tourneys, was the Player of the Year.

Canyons won WSC No. 9 with 315 strokes, beating SBCC (336) by 21 shots. Shevitt was the medalist at 75, one stroke better than Koda.

The Cougars captured the WSC Finals with rounds of 313 and 315 for a 628. SBCC was second (320-336--656) and Bakersfield took third (389-371--760). Those three teams advanced to the Southern Cal Regional, which will also be hosted by SBCC and held at the Alisal River on Sunday and Monday.

Canyons finished a perfect 45-0 in conference, SBCC was second at 36-9 and Bakiersfield took third (25-20).

Bleth shot her second-best rounds of the year each day (83). Kayla Karst's scores of 91 and 90 were her third- and fourth-lowest of the season.

"I was happy for Alexa and Kayla, they played great," said Melendez. "This group really enjoys the game of golf and they're a pleasure to coach."

Nine teams from three leagues will compete in the Regional. The top four teams will move on to the CCCAA State Championships on Nov.11-12 at Morro Bay GC along with the top six individuals not on those teams.

SBCC (52-14 overall) has finished first (2015), second and third in the last three years of the State Championships.

WSC No. 9
At par-72 Alisal River Course
Final scores
 Team -- 1, Canyons 315. 2, SBCC 336. 3, Bakersfield 371. 4 (tie), Moorpark, Citrus, Antelope Valley, no score.
 Medalist (par 72) -- 1, Georgia Shevitt, Moorpark, 75. 2, Haruka Koda, Canyons, 76. 3, Jessie Lin, Canyons, 77.
 SBCC scores -- 6 (tie), Stephanie Farouze 83, Alexa Bleth 83. 9 (tie), Corina Garcia 84. 11, Lauren Calvin 86. Kayla Karst 90, Juliet Parsons 100.

WSC Finals
At par-72 Alisal River Course
Final 36-hole scores (Sunday & Monday)
 Team -- 1, Canyons 313-315--628. 2, SBCC 320-336--656. 3, Bakersfield 389-371--760. 4 (tie), Moorpark 400-no score; Citrus NS; Antelope Valley NS.
 Medalist -- 1, Haruka Koda, Canyons, 75-76--151. 2, Stephanie Farouze, SBCC, 69-83--152. 3 (tie), Georgia Shevitt, Moorpark, 80-75--155; Jessie Lin, Canyons, 78-77--155. 5, JoJo Roecker, Canyons, 78-81--159.
 SBCC scores -- 2, Farouze 69-83--152. 7, Bleth 83-83--166. 9 (tie), Garcia 85-84--169, Calvin 83-86--169. Karst 91-90--181, Parsons 110-100--210.
 Final WSC standings -- 1, Canyons 45-0. 2, SBCC 36-9. 3, Bakersfield 25-20. 4, Moorpark 14-31. 5, Citrus 11-34. 6, Antelope Valley 0-45.
 SBCC overall record -- 52-14.