Murrieta Mesa sophomore has a strong back nine, overtaking Jordyn Parr and her 66 from Wednesday's prelim

MENIFEE >> Prior to Thursday, Angela Heo had less-than-stellar memories from the Palms Course’s 14th hole at Menifee Lakes Country Club.

Now, she has a moment to remember.

The Murrieta Mesa sophomore eagled the par-5, 439-yard hole, enabling her to overtake first-round leader Jordyn Parr of Temecula Valley and go on to win the individual title in Thursday’s Southwestern League Finals on a dry, warm and windy afternoon.

Heo, the Inland area’s only state-tournament qualifier from a year ago, won by a stroke, shooting 2-under-par 70 on Thursday after 71 in Wednesday’s preliminary. Her two-day total of 141 was one better than Parr, who shot 76 after taking a five-stroke lead Wednesday after opening with a 6-under 66.

“This was special, especially for me, because I’ve never played two days under par,” Heo said, “and I did that today.”

With Santa Ana winds and temperatures reaching into the 90s, Thursday at Menifee Lakes was a far different play than Wednesday. But Parr, a fourth-year senior, held her lead until the pivotal 14th.

A year ago in this tournament on this same course, Heo said she went into the water in front of the green at No. 14 and took a triple bogey. On Thursday, she drove to the middle of the fairway and hit a 7-iron to 12 feet before sinking the eagle putt while Parr, leading by one stroke at the time, made par, giving Heo the lead.

She extended the advantage on No. 16 with another fantastic approach — this time with a 54-degree wedge — before sinking a birdie putt while Parr bogeyed.

Heo wound up needing every shot. Parr birdied No. 18 while Heo went above the left-side bunker and couldn’t slow the downhill chip enough on her up-and-down attempt. Still, Heo made bogey to complete a back-nine 33 and earn a one-shot victory.

“Today, I was just like, ‘Keep doing your best and think about your own play,’” said Heo, 10th at last year’s state tournament.

Parr made it close for her fourth top-three finish in four tries at the Southwestern League Finals, including two years ago, when she prevailed by a single stroke over Vista Murrieta’s Aly Bean. Having a front-row seat to watch Heo was tough, knowing this was a last chance in league for the San Jose State-commit.

“Well, I did it yesterday,” Parr said, when asked about watching a competitor on a roll. “I think it’s just harder because it’s my senior year, and I obviously played well yesterday, and to not play well today kind of (stinks).”

Last year’s league champion, senior Venecia Zaia of Vista Murrieta, closed Thursday with a 71 and a two-day, third-place total of 144.

The top eight advanced to next week’s CIF Southern Section Individual Regional. That included a pair of juniors — Murrieta Mesa’s Carlotta Rusticelli (75-78-153) and Great Oak’s MacKenzie Carpenter (75-78-153) — as well as Parr’s sister, freshman Katelyn Parr, who shot 81 after opening Wednesday with a 74.

Sophomores Kate Watanasiripong (79-80-159), from Great Oak, and Mia Golovich (78-82-160), from Murrieta Mesa, claimed the last two qualifying spots.

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