CIF/SCGA SoCal Girls Regional Championship

November 9, 2023, Los Serranos GC (North)

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.

Player Handbook

Donina Zhou, Santa Margarita Claim Top CIF Regional Honors

Photos Results

Santa Margarita High School could be the next golf dynasty in Southern California. One year removed from sweeping the top individual and team honors in both the 2022 CIF Regional and State Championships, the Eagles have once again swept the regional tournament.

Donina Zhou, a freshman, secured the individual title in a one-hole playoff. She combined with her teammates to shoot six-under and clinch the team title by 12 strokes, as Santa Margarita ran the table in dominant fashion at Los Serranos CC ahead of next week’s state championship at Poppy Hills.

“[Donina] is so confident, it’s really exciting,” said Jill Hegna, a newly minted two-time regional defending champion head coach. “We were confident last year but I think the freshmen that came in, they were so tournament ready and that really helps. Having the tournament experience is important, then it kind of rubs off on everybody.”

Zhou’s day did not start as intended when she carded a bogey on her opening hole (No. 6). She got herself back to even-par four holes later with a birdie on No. 10. Still, she was chasing a four-stroke deficit to make it to the top with 13 holes remaining.

Facing consecutive par 5’s on Nos. 13 and 14, Zhou took advantage of the scoring opportunities and converted eagles on both holes. On No. 13, measuring 451 yards, she got to the green in two shots and rolled in a 30-foot putt. She didn’t quite reach the green in two on the next hole, which measured roughly 75 yards longer, but chipped in from just outside the green to cap off a two-hole span that immediately put her in contention.

“That was huge because that’s the easiest stretch of the course, so you want to play good there,” Zhou said. “So, I was really grateful that I was able to execute.”

Adding another birdie on No. 16 to bring herself to five-under, Zhou was mistake-free the rest of the way, parring out the rest of her holes to finish with a 69 and a shot at the individual title.

“I think my mental game was really good today,” Zhou said. “There weren’t really any technical or mechanical things that were really good. I think I just stayed mentally strong even when my putts weren’t dropping, and I put myself in a good position all day.”

Marlborough’s Kaila Elsayegh, who started on Hole 14, also put together an incredibly clean round with zero bogeys and five birdies, including a crucial one on the 130-yard par-3 tenth that got her to five-under to eventually force a playoff against Zhou.

Playing off No. 18, Zhou and Elsayegh’s tee shots landed right next to each other in the middle of the fairway, leaving them a little under 150 yards to reach the green, which was guarded in front with an array of bunkers.

Zhou’s approach shot stuck on the green, about 25 feet to the left of the flag, while Elsayegh went into a bunker to the right side. Elsayegh was unable to convert the up-and-down from the bunker, while Zhou two-putted for par to win.

“It means a lot,” said Zhou, who shot a 69 in regulation to force a playoff against Marlborough’s Kaila Elsayegh. “Not just individually, but also as a team. I really love this team and all the girls here so I’m so grateful that I’m going to be able to spend next week with them at Poppy Hills.”

“It means a lot,” said Zhou. “Not just individually, but also as a team. I really love this team and all the girls here so I’m so grateful that I’m going to be able to spend next week with them at Poppy Hills.”

Added Hegna, “They walk tall with their heads high and I’m really proud of them…I’m trying to keep them grounded and make sure that they appreciate every win, but we’ve still got things to do. We’ve got unfinished business.”

With the victory, Zhou also earns exemption into both the 2024 California Women’s Amateur and SCGA Women’s Amateur Championships.

“It’s so cool and I’m really excited to play,” she said. “I’m really grateful that the CIF and SCGA are giving me this opportunity to compete in those events.”

Past Winners

Year Winner Site
2023 Donina Zhou, Santa Margarita (Individual), Santa Margarita HS (Team) Los Serranos CC
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)
Commenting is not available on this page.