Sherpa, Bleth are third and eighth in Desert Classic

Pratima Sherpa shot 78 on a sizzling Friday and is tied for third after one round of the Desert Classic at the par-74 Legends Course at Tahquitz Creek GC. The temperature reached 112 degrees in Palm Springs.

Reedley tops the eight-team field at 316. Mt. SAC is second at 322, Modesto is third (326), one stroke ahead of the host school, College of the Desert. SBCC is in fifth place at 334.

Monica Yu of Reedley took medalist honors with a 1-under 73 that was one stroke better than Precious Saelee of Mt. SAC. Sherpa is tied for third with Serena DiMauro of Reedley.

Alexa Bleth was the Vaqueros' second-best scorer and she's tied for eighth at 81.

"This is a new team and getting experience is the important thing," said coach Chuck Melendez. "I was happy with our last two players, Marie Naud and Honey Lawrie (who shot 87 and 88) because they played better than our No. 3 and 4 players. I know we can do better and that's what we hope to do tomorrow."

The Vaqueros will play in the final round of the Desert Classic on Saturday on the par-72 Resort Course, starting at 7 a.m.
 
Desert Classic
At Tahquitz Creek GC
Par-74 Legends Course
First round
 Team -- 1, Reedley 316. 2, Mt. SAC 322. 3, Modesto 326. 4, Desert 327. 5, SBCC 334. 6, Cuyamaca 364. 7, Mt. San Jacinto 403. 8, Bakersfield 471.
 Medalist -- 1, Monica Yu, Reedley, 73. 2, Precious Saelee, Mt. SAC, 74. 3 (tie) Pratima Sherpa, SBCC, 78; Serena DiMauro, Reedley, 78. 5, Chloe Cardenas, Modesto, 79.
 SBCC scores -- 3 (tie), Sherpa 78. 8 (tie), Alexa Bleth 81. Marie Naud 87, Honey Lawrie 88, Cally Casterline 93, Paris White 93.