In what was a stunning finish, Murrieta Mesa’s Angela Heo, who only lost by two strokes last year, pulled off a one-stroke victory this year over the field at the recent Southwestern League girls golf finals. Heo, who shot a 141 over her two days at the Menifee Lakes Country Club, was ousted by Venecia Zaia (a UNC-Asheville recruit) of Vista Murrieta in 2018, but this year held off a gritty run by not Zaia (3rd place; 144), but also by Jordyn Parr (a San Jose State commit), who finished with a 142.

Going into the finals it was the Great Oak and Temecula Valley teams that shared the conference title, based on their 9-1 dual-meet records. Chaparral High School was the host for the league finals where the individual competition featured 11 of the top 12 golfers from last year’s SWL Finals.

The top eight girls’ golfers will move on to CIF and have to play off for the final All-League spot and the CIF alternate (a seldom-used designation, but one that was an unintended benefit from the 9th patch playoff). That spot went to Ashlyn Calabrase, who earned that distinction with a birdie on the first playoff hole (No. 17 on Palms Course).

“It was an exceptional year of girls golf in the Southwestern League, said Rob Hernandez, Chaparral Head Girls Golf Coach. “A year ago, a score of 100 or better made it to Day 2 of League Finals; this year it was an 87. Five of the six schools have met CIF team qualifying criteria and we are submitting at-large requests for Murrieta Mesa and Murrieta Valley to join Great Oak, Temecula Valley and Vista Murrieta in team CIF.”

The top eight Southwestern League girls’ golfers qualified for the CIF Individual Southern Regionals and also garnished first team All-League status, as did three others. The top 11 through 18 girls on the list garnished second team All-League status.

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