November 15, 2007
Poppy Hills GC

PEBBLE BEACH – In a dramatic finish, Southern California’s Torrance High School captured the State NCGA/CIF Girls Golf Championship and Lee Lopez of La Serna High School in Whittier was the individual winner at Poppy Hills.

As the final score of the day was posted, Northern California’s Robert Louis Stevenson was one stroke shy of being state champions.  With a team total of 400, the Tartars of Torrance captured their second state title in three years.  Coached by PGA Professional John Wurzer, last year’s runner-up team had a mission to complete. “They played really well for not knowing the course.  After losing by eight strokes last year, the girls had a mission and our top two players really came through for us,” stated the eighth-year coach.  As only one girl will graduate this fall, Wurzer hopes that his team can repeat next year.

With the only score under par, Lopez was two strokes better then runner-up Jane Rah of Torrance.  With three bogeys and three birdies on the front nine, Lopez knew she had to pick up her game to finish strong.  The senior stated,  “I don’t really keep my score and I never know what I am shooting.  The greens were really fast and it took me the front side to figure them out.”  After capturing four league titles and her first state championship, the Whittier resident will be playing for the Long Beach State 49ers next fall.

Grace Na of Alameda finished third while Sydney Burlison of Robert Louis Stevenson and Lalita Patipaksiri of Cypress tied for fourth.  There was a four-way tie for sixth including Emily Childs of Alameda, Rachel Morris of Carlsbad, Danielle Frasier of La Costa Canyon and Amelia Ek of Cypress.

Results:

Individual Championship
Team Championship 

State Champions (Front Row L-R): Jane Rah, Jenny
Shin, Demi Runas, Rochelle Chan, Coach John Wurzer,
Jennel Alexander, and Emily Chong.

Individual Winners (Front Row L-R First-Sixth Place):
Lee Lopez, Jane Rah, Grace Na, Sydney Burlison, Lalita
Patipaksiri, Amelia Ek, Danielle Frasier, Rachel Morris,
and Emily Childs.