CIF/SCGA SoCal Girls Regional Championship
November 9, 2023, Brookside GC (Course #1)
This Championship is open to female high school individuals and teams competing in the CIF Southern California Sections. This also serves as a qualifier into the state championship, which is conducted in Southern California every other year.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern California sections are comprised of the Central, Los Angeles, Southern and San Diego sections.
Leigh Chien, Santa Margarita Claim Top Honors at 2022 CIF/SCGA Regional Champ
Leigh Chien, the defending CIF girls state champion, picked up where she left off last November, capturing the CIF/SCGA SoCal Regional High School individual title today at Brookside GC to reserve her chance at a title defense next week at San Gabriel CC.
Although at this year’s state championship, the rest of the Santa Margarita HS team will join her. And that’s what excited her the most as she reflected on a round where she shot five-under 68 with zero bogeys.
“I’m really excited,” Chien, a Youth on Course/Golf Pass member said. “My whole team is going and last year it was just me so it will be a lot more fun…That means that when we go back to school the teacher will be more lenient on us too.”
In its first appearance as a team in the Southern Section championship, Santa Margarita HS dominated the team competition. Across its five-person team, the Eagles finished at four-over, led by the junior Chien, a Stanford commit.
“Very excited with the chemistry of these girls,” Head Coach Jill Hegna said. “We’re coming off a 14-0 season, they’ve just been on fire…This is the first time we’re here as a team, and then to win it, on top of that, this is very special.”
As for Chien, she established herself near the top of the leaderboard early on with two birdies on the scorecard through her first five holes. Staying consistent with pars, she found herself a couple strokes off the lead as she made the turn.
She eventually took sole possession of first place with a pair of birdies on her 15th and 16th holes. Though Vista Murrieta’s Lauren Sammon was charging up the leaderboard, putting together a string of five birdies in six holes to challenge Chien. The two became tied at four-under with two holes remaining.
On her 17th hole, Chien knocked in her fifth and most important birdie of the day to restore her solo lead, and it proved to the difference. Sammon parred, then bogeyed her final hole to fall out of individual title contention.
“I didn’t miss a lot of greens today, so it was easy for me to not make mistakes,” Chien said. “My putts were dropping in the end and that helped a lot.”
She’s got six days to prepare for her state title defense, confidence boosted by a stellar round at Brookside and a regional title to add to her resume.
“It feels good. I feel like I have more confidence going into states. I’m proud that I was able to pull it off today.”
Sammon (70) led the individual qualifiers for next week, which also includes Natrada Pongsasin (71) Mitzi Duarte (71), Kelsey Kim (72), Alyson Sor (72), Kiana Glossner (73), Yurang Li (73) and Cristen Legaspi (73) and Ashley Yun (74). Joining Santa Margarita on the team side will be Arcadia and Portola.
Past Winners
Year | Winner | Site |
---|---|---|
2022 |
Leigh Chien, Santa Margarita (Individual), Santa Margarita HS (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2021 |
Ashley Yun, Walnut (Individual), Notre Dame HS (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2021 |
Emiko Sverduk, Long Beach Wilson (Individual)Troy High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2019 |
Jasmine Leovao, El Camino (Individual) Troy High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2018 |
Irene Kim, Kennedy (Individual) Mater Dei High School (Team) |
Brookside GC |
2017 |
Angelina Kim, Fairfax (Individual) Troy High School (Team) |
Canyon Crest CC |
2016 |
Beth Lillie, Troy (Individual) Troy High School (Team) |
Arrowhead CC |
2015 |
Kailie Vongsaga, Diamond Bar (Individual) Mira Costa High School (Team) |
Dad Miller GC |
2014 |
Danielle Lee, La Mirada (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
The GC at Rancho California |
2013 |
Muni He, Torrey Pines (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
The GC at Rancho California |
2012 |
Jessica Vasilic, Canyon Anaheim (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
The GC at Rancho California |
2011 |
Sandy Choi, Torrey Pines (Individual) Palm Desert High School (Team) |
The GC at Rancho California |
2010 |
Kaitlin Park, Beckman (Individual) Torrance High School (Team) |
The GC at Rancho California |
2009 |
Devon Brown, Cathedral Catholic (Individual) Torrance High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2008 |
Victoria Park, Irvine (Individual) Los Altos High School (Team) |
Canyon Crest CC |
2007 |
Jenny Shin, Torrance (Individual) Torrance High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2006 |
Rachel Morris, Carlsbad (Individual) Torrance High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2005 |
Brianna Do, Long Beach Wilson (Individual) Torrance High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2004 |
Amber Lundskog, Scripps Ranch (Individual) Wilson High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2003 |
Amie Cochran, West Torrance (Individual) Peninsula High School (Team) |
The SCGA GC |
2002 |
Jennifer Osburn, Marina (Individual) Peninsula High School (Team) |
SCGA Members Club |
2001 |
Allison Martin, Centennial (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
SCGA Members Club |
2000 |
Ina Kim, Harvard Westlake (Individual) Torrey Pines High School (Team) |
SCGA Members Club |
1999 |
Walailak Satarak, Paramount (Individual) University High School (Team) |
SCGA Members Club |
1998 |
Candie Kung, Fountain Valley (Individual) |
SCGA Members Club |
1997 |
Nicole Dalkas, Palm Desert (Individual) |
SCGA Members Club |
1996 |
Andrea Cordova, Clovis West (Individual) |
SCGA Members Club |
1995 |
Jenny Glasgow, Corona Del Mar (Individual) |
|
1994 |
Jenny Lee, Sunny Hills (Individual) |
|
1993 |
Kellee Booth, Santa Margarita (Individual) |
|
1992 |
Kellee Booth, Santa Margarita (Individual) |
|
1991 |
Betty Chen, Palm Desert (Individual) |
|
1990 |
Leta Lindley, Carlsbad (Individual) |
|
1989 |
Stephanie Martin, Rio Mesa (Individual) |
|
1988 |
Patti Sinn, Bellflower (Individual) |
|
1987 |
Michelle Lyfore, Redlands (Individual) |
|
1986 |
Christy Erb, University of San Diego (Individual) |
|
1985 |
Joan Pitcock, Clovis West (Individual) |
|
1984 |
Kim Saiki, Oceanview (Individual) |
|
1983 |
Kim Saiki, Oceanview (Individual) |
|
1982 |
Kathy Kostas, Quartz Hill (Individual) |
|
1981 |
Kathy Kostas, Quartz Hill (Individual) |
|
1980 |
Kathy Nino, Buchser (Individual) |
|
1979 |
Sharon Barrett, Monte Vista (Individual) |