By John M. Sherrard
(Ventura, CA) On the second day of the two-day, South Coast Classic Women's Golf Tournament, Mt. SAC freshman McKenzie Kelly shot a lifetime best, 74, to finish in the top ten in the season-opening event for the Mounties at the Buenaventura Golf Club.
Her 74 was just three over on the par-71 course and led third-year Mt. SAC Women's coach Greg Osbourne to come away with a bright young player for the upcoming season.
"My No. 1 player shot the best round of her life," Osbourne said. "I'm elated that she started off her college career shooting her best score in competition." Osbourne said Kelly has improved 20 strokes since she started at Mt. SAC over the summer.
"I started working with her in the summer class on everything, including putting, her short game and all," Osbourne added. "She was there everyday and it paid off."
Kelly, who prepped at Roosevelt high in Eastvale, had a chance to finish even higher on her day-two round, but her foursome was hit with a two-stroke penalty for hitting off the wrong tee on the last hole of the shotgun tourney.
Day one of the tourney was played at the par-72 Olivas Links Golf Club. Mt. SAC's No. 2 golfer, freshman Alexandra Le Mons, had to withdraw on the second day of the tourney due to illness.
The Mounties, who lost six players from last year, have only one sophomore and five freshmen.
"It's tough to rebuild a team, but we have a good bunch of girls, a really fun group," said Osbourne, who is also a PGA member.
The Mountie women will compete in their second tournament in a week at the Desert Classic at the Tahquitz Creek Golf Course in Palm Springs this Friday/Saturday, September 1st and 2nd.
Follow Mt. SAC Women's Golf on twitter @MtSAC_WGolf
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
South Coast Classic
1st round at par-72 Olivas Links GC
First round
Team -- 1, Sierra 300. 2, SBCC 322. 3, Canyons 330. 4, Desert 343. 5, Bakersfield 346. 6, Irvine Valley 349. 7, Moorpark 351. 8, Mt. SAC 352. 9, Citrus 360. 10, Antelope Valley 393.
Mt. SAC scores – Mackenzie Kelly 80, Alexandra Le Mons 86, Brianna Pulido 91, Ryane Broughton 95, Johnna Dunn 122, Elizebeth Mendoza 127.
2nd round at par-71 Buenaventura GC
Final scores
Team -- 1, Sierra 300-300--600. 2, SBCC 322-300--622. 3, Canyons 330-325--655. 4, Desert 343-333--676. 5, Moorpark 351-330--681. 6, Bakersfield 346-348--694. 7, Irvine Valley 349-348--697. 8, Citrus 360-342--702. 9, Mt. SAC 352-359--711. 10, Antelope Valley 393-370--763.
Mt. SAC scores – Mackenzie Kelly 80-74--154, Brianna Pulido 91-86--177, Ryane Broughton 95-97--192, Elizebeth Mendoza 127-102--229, Johnna Dunn 122-119--241, Alexandra Le Mons 86-WD--DF.