DOWNEY, Calif. - The Women's Golf team for Vanguard University traveled out of Orange County and into the greater Los Angeles area for a match that paired them up with Cal State Los Angeles.  With the rains yesterday and the thought of more rain today, course conditions were not ideal but the women powered on.  Alyse Padilla (JR/Modesto, CA) led the way, tying a personal low score as the Lions were able to out score Cal State LA by a final score of 334 to 388. 

Rio Hondo Golf Club played host to the two teams.  A par 71 course, it incorporates three small water features and a large lake that makes holes six, seven, and eight very tricky to play.  The fourth whole clocks in as the longest but the rest of the course is manageable, though the eleventh green perhaps is the hardest, as it presents a tight approach that backs up to water.

Three Lions set season lows, as Padilla nailed a 79 on the day, the low score on the team.  Makenzie McMillen (FR/Henderson, NV) hit her season low by way of an 85 and Kylie Takata (JR/Tracey, CA) did so as well with her round of 89.  Malia Kiger (FR/Hermosa Beach, CA) came in second on the team with a good round of 81, higlighted by a chip in off the fringe of the green.  That turned out to be just one shot above her season average, while Bella Morales came home with a total score 94.  The team has now claimed its first win and first solo match win in the span of a couple weeks and once again, a lot of players took another step forward.  The squad gained a ton of momentum today as they get ready to enter a three day tournament in just two days, and though the threat of rain may force the tournament to be postponed, the women's golf program is making huge strides in it's first year.

Next Match: Point Loma Nazarene Invitation, San Diego, California, at Rancho Bernardo Golf Resort, Feb. 3-5

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