Granada Hills Charter Wins Fourth Straight Girls Golf Championship; Sylmar's Julie Ward Wins Individual City Title

Since 2001 when the LA City Section began recognizing champions in Girls Golf, Granada Hills Charter has set a standard of excellence that continues to flourish each and every year. For the fourth consecutive season and 10th time in the last 14 years, the Highlanders are the kings of golf.

Meanwhile, senior Julie Ward of Sylmar conquered windy conditions to win the LA City Section individual championship with a score of 72. Ward, who did not play her sophomore or junior years due to illness and ineligibility (transfer), made the most of her moment by holding off a determined Amanda Lee of Cleveland (74) on the final hole.

“It’s great because sophomore and junior year I didn’t get to play,” Ward said. “Freshman year I qualified but I didn’t win. It’s good to end my senior year on a good note.”

Ward and Lee walked to the 18th tee tied at 64. Ward proceeded to par the hole while Lee double-bogeyed. Freshman Carol Cheng of Granada Hills shot a 75 playing alongside Ward and Lee.

“I haven’t been playing my best golf the past six months or so. I’m finally getting myself back on track where I need to be,” said Ward. “The thing going for me today was just my attitude. I didn’t let any shots affect me and I didn’t get mad. I just wanted to do my best. And that is what I did. I just kept playing my game.”

Granada Hills shattered its previous Section record of 421 strokes by shooting a 409 on Monday afternoon at Balboa Golf Course to win the 2014 LA City Section championship. Without any senior in the lineup, the Highlanders easily defeated runner-up North Hollywood who shot a 471.

The Highlanders were represented by Cheng (75), Elena Gil (80), Jo Jo Roecker (82), Mia Aniceto (82), Arizo Beria (90) and Hannah Choe (104).

“We have been playing some very pretty fine golf. To win four years in a row means that the program is doing really well. That’s a big plus for us,” Granada Hills coach Steve Thompson said. “To shoot a 409 says a lot for our girls. Next year’s goal is to break 400. I think that’s within reach. It’s a reasonable goal at this point. If we continue to work hard as we have been doing, it would be quite an accomplishment for a City Section team.”

“It’s an amazing feeling to feel the joy of how our team did. We all support each other,” Roecker, a junior, said. “There’s a way that we all come together whether we play well or we play poorly. It’s a community type of feeling. We did well and finished strong.”

North Hollywood was led by Lauren Fesler who shot an 85. The Highlanders and the Huskies both advance to the 2014 CIF-WSCGA Foundation Southern California Girls Golf Championships on November 13 at Arrowhead Country Club in San Bernardino.

Qualifying individually were Ward, Lee, Tyra Tonkham (SOCES), Simron Balyan (Van Nuys), Caitlin Sasamori (Venice), Izara Cortes (Bravo), Fairy Chotset (Birmingham), Megan Gale (Verdugo Hills), Biko Deshazo (Van Nuys), Noelle Cho (Venice), Nicole Kishimoto (Venice) and Samantha Elias (El Camino Real).

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