Golf Title for Dos Pueblos

The thought didn’t even cross Doug Mitchell’s mind until about a month ago, and even as early as Monday morning he doubted his Goleta Dos Pueblos girls’ golf team could win the Southern Section team title.

But the Chargers, without a star or a senior, made a believer of their coach Monday at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo when they shot 441 in difficult conditions and won the title by four shots over Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula.

Anaheim Esperanza shot 450 and finished third and Camarillo, which played several home matches at Las Posas, finished fourth with 451.

The top four advance to the CIF-WSCGA finals on Dec. 3 at the SCGA Members Club in Murrieta.

Maggie Kim led the way with a 16-over-par 87 for Dos Pueblos, but the key to the victory was depth.

Nicole Dishman, Sara Ovada and Amber Clifford each shot 88 and Sumika Sim shot 90 on a windblown course with fairways so tight, Palm Desert Coach Jack Stewart said, “there are a couple of places where you have to walk single file.”

Dos Pueblos finished second in its first tournament this year but has won everything else since. The Chargers broke 200 twice this season in nine-hole matches, including a 188 Oct. 23.

“That’s when I knew we had something here,” Mitchell said. “This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us. I thought we’d be competitive, but not this good.”

Peninsula Coach Bob Wilton was scratching his head trying to figure out how his team came within four shots of winning when four of his players failed to break 90. Shannon Yocum shot 81 and Annika Windon shot 83 to lead Peninsula.

“I figured we were a done deal,” Wilton said. “I didn’t think were were going to make it, but we’re thrilled to death.”

Others weren’t as joyful. Long Beach Wilson shot 452 and missed advancing by one stroke. Last year, the Bruins finished second in the section finals -- by one stroke.

The disappointment was deeper for Torrance, which shot 455 and finished sixth. Maria Ham, the No. 2 player for Torrance, withdrew after 12 holes because of illness.

Coach John Wurzer said Ham, who averaged 38 for nine holes during the regular season, was 17-over-par through 12 holes -- on pace for a 97. Had Ham finished with a 92, Torrance would have won. Had she shot 102, Torrance would have advanced.

-- Peter Yoon

For the fourth consecutive year, Carson and Granada Hills will play for the City Section girls’ tennis championship.

Top-seeded Granada Hills lost four games in 14 sets en route to a 7-0 victory over fifth-seeded Westchester (12-4) in the first of two semifinals at Balboa Tennis Center in Encino. The Highlanders (15-0), who reached the finals for the fifth consecutive year but only have one title in that time, have not lost a set in the playoffs.

“For us to win it’s going to take a whole team effort,” said Highlander No. 1 singles player Christine Dao. “I think if we play our best, we can do it.”

Dao blanked Westchester’s Monika Brackett, 6-0, 6-0, while teammates Tracey Takeshita and Maria Cardenas won by an identical score at No. 1 doubles.

Third-seeded Carson was almost as impressive in its 5-2 victory over second-seeded Palisades, winning the first five matches before the Dolphins (14-1) won two three-setters. The defending champion Colts (15-0) have won 47 consecutive matches over three seasons.

The finals are 1 p.m. Friday at Balboa Tennis Center.

-- Steve Galluzzo