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Women's Golf
2009 season
2009 Palomar College Women's Golf Team FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Hannah Gelormini, Cora Busby, Meagan Pechner, Kaylynn Ward. SECOND ROW, FROM LEFT: Beth Sellers, Kayla Sotelo, Leinati Leniu, Jessica Milner. STANDING: Coach Mark Eldridge. -- (Photo by Melinda Finn)
ABOVE: Conference Player of the Year and Tuesday medalist Beth Sellers sizes up a shot on Monday. SECOND ROW: Defending Southern California champion Cora Busby, Lienati Leniu, Jessica Milner, Kayla Sotelo . -- Photos by Hugh Cox. Palomar sweeps field again; Sellers medalist SAN MARCOS (11-3-09) -- Palomar completed a two-day domination of the Foothill Conference Women's Golf Championships on Tuesday at Lake San Marcos Country Club. The Comets won by 49 strokes over runner-up Mt. SAC over Tuesday's 18 holes and finished 106 strokes ahead of the Mounties for the tournament's full 36 holes. Both teams advance to the Southern California Regional tournament on Sunday and Monday at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills. Palomar's Beth Sellers took medalist honors on Tuesday, shooting a 76, and was named conference Player of the Year. The Comets' Mark Eldridge was Coach of the Year. Cora Busby, with the second lowest scoring average in the conference behind Sellers on the year, joined her on the All-Foothill first team along with Jessica Milner and Meagan Pechner. Lienati Leniu and Kayla Sotelo were second-team selections. The Comets finished at 326 Tuesday, 27 strokes off the Palomar record of 299 they shot on Sept. 21 but plenty good enough to win easily. Mt. SAC check in at 375, followed by College of the Desert (415), Long Beach City College (439) and Mt. San Jacinto (no score). Behind Sellers' medalist score on Tuesday, Busby shot a 78 for the Comets, Pechner 84, Milner 88, Leniu 89, Kaylynn Ward 89, Sotelo 93 and Hannah Gelormini 102. Because the conference tournament is technically two 18-hole events, the Comets picked up four more wins and are now 45-0 on the season, 44-0 in conference. Palomar placed second in Southern California and third in the CCCAA State Championships last season. ----- Milner, Comets top MSAC by 57 shots on Day 1 SAN MARCOS (11-2-09) -- First-place Palomar remained unbeaten for 2009 and finished 57 strokes ahead of Mt. SAC on Day 1 of the two-day, 36-hole Foothill Conference women's golf finals on Monday at Lake San Marcos Country Club. The Comets, the host team in the tournament on an unfamiliar neutral course, had a 320 total, followed by the Mounties at 377, College of the Desert (422), Long Beach City College (435) and Mt. San Jacinto (no score). Jessica Milner led Palomar with a 76. Beth Sellers had a 78, Meagan Pechner 82, Cora Busby 84, Lienati Leniu 89 and Kayla Sotelo 95. Winds ruin scores but Comets finish 37-0
The Comets (344) defeated runner-up Mt. SAC by 45 strokes 344-389. College of the Desert (397), Long Beach City College (427) and host Mt. San Jacinto (no score) trailed. Meagan Pechner (above left) shot an 81, Beth Sellers 82, Leinati Leniu 89, Kayla Sotelo 97 and Kaylynn Ward 112. Palomar, which will host the Foothill finals Monday and Tuesday at Lake San Marcos GC, had put five players in the 70s on Monday in winning at El Prado GC in Chino with a 304. Comets shoot 304, win behind Sellers, Busby
The Comets defeated host and runner-up Mt. SAC (337) by 53 strokes at El Prado Golf Club. College of the Desert (387), Long Beach City College (407) and Mt. San Jacinto (no score) trailed. Medalist Beth Sellers (73), above left, and Cora Busby (75), right, led the way as five Comets shot in the 70s. Jessica Milner shot a 77, Leinati Leniu 79, Meagan Pechner 79, Kayla Sotelo 80 and Kaylynn Ward 88. Palomar is 33-0, 32-0 in conference. Palomar has one more regular-season match remaining, which will be hosted by Mt. San Jacinto on Wednesday at Oak Valley Country Club in Beaumont, before the Comets host the 36-hole conference finals on Monday and Tuesday at Lake San Marcos. Comets win again; Sellers cards even-par 72
The Comets easily outdistanced runner-up Mt. SAC 305-377 in a Foothill Conference five-way match. College of the Desert (411), Long Beach City College (426) and Mt. San Jacinto (no score) trailed. Cora Busby carded a 76 for Palomar (29-0, 28-0 in conference). Leinati Leniu (right) had a 78, Meagan Pechner 79, Jessica Milner 79 and Kayla Sotelo 92. Palomar places first again, ups record to 25-0
The Comets shot a team score of 316.. Beth Sellers medaled for Palomar, shooting a 73. Cora Busby (right) carded a 79, Megan Pechner shot an 82, Leinati Leniu an 82, Jessica Milner 91 and Kayla Sotelo 92. Milner medals as Comets advance to 21-0
Palomar's 313 outdistanced runner-up Mt. SAC, which had a 354. Oong Beach City College (407), College of the Desert (429) and Mt. San Jacinto (no score) trailed. Milner shot a 74, Beth Sellers 77, Meagan Pechner 78, Cora Busby 84, Leinati Leniu 87 and Kayla Sotelo 89. Sellers medals, Palomar wins by 76 strokes
The Comets and COD were followed in team scoring by Mt. SAC at 390, Long Beach City College 431 and Mt. San Jacinto no score. Palomar freshman Beth Sellers (above left), who set a school record with a round of 70 last week, medaled with a 74. Also for the Comets, Cora Busby (right) shot a 77, Jessica Milner 79, Megan Pechner 83, Leinati Leniu 87 and Kayla Sotelo 90. Coach Mark Eldridge's Comets are 17-0 on the season and 16-0 in conference. Conference tabs Sellers Athlete of the Week
Sellers, a freshman from Morse High School, shot a school-record 70 last Monday, Sept. 21, at Woodhaven Country Club in Palm Springs, leading the Comets to a first-place finish in a five-way Foothill Conference match. First-place Palomar's 299 team score enabled the Comets to defeat runner-up College of the Desert by 56 strokes. Third-place Mt. SAC was another 13 strokes back. The Comets placed third in the CCCAA state finals a year ago. The PCAC is Palomar's regular home conference but does not offer competition in women's golf. Pechner, Comets triumph to go to 13-0, 12-0
Palomar, playing without No. 1 golfer Beth Sellers, who carded a school record 70 on Monday in Palm Springs as the Comets shot a school-record 299, topped the field with a 335 with College of the Desert, Mt. SAC, Long Beach City College and Mt. San Jacinto trailing. Pechner shot a 79, Cora Busby 83, Leinati Leniu 86, Jessica Milner 87 and Kayla Sotelo 95. Sellers sets mark with 70; PC 56-stroke winner
Meagan Pechner shot a 75, Cora Busby 77, Leinati Leniu 77, Jessica Milner 77 and Kayla Sotelo 80. Coach Mark Eldridge's Comets (9-0, 8-0 in conference) won by 56 strokes, shooting a school record 299. College of the Desert was second with a 355, followed by Mt SAC (368), Long Beach City College (385) and Mt. San Jacinto (no score). Sellers medals; Comets top field by 56 strokes
Host College of the Desert had a 368, Mt. SAC 373, Long Beach City College 400 and Mt. San Jacinto no score. Sellers won by one stroke over Palomar teammate Meagan Pechner (right, 74). Among Palomar's other scorers, Cora Busby shot an 80, Lienati Leniu 84, Kayla Sotelo 89, Leinati Leniu 97 and Kaylynn Ward 103. Colorado transfer Milner leads PC to 2nd of 13 PALM SPRINGS (9-12-09) -- Sophomore transfer Jessica Milner, who played for the University of Colorado last season as a true freshman, shot an even-par 73-71 -- 144 to lead Palomar to second in a 13-team field Friday and Saturday in the Desert Classic. Sacramento City College won the tournament at Indian Canyon Country Club with a 588 and Palomar had a 617. Sierra's Lynne Cowan medaled with a 69-69 -- 138 for 36 holes. Among Palomar's other scorers, Meagan Pechner shot a 75-75 -- 150, Cora Busby 81-76 -- 157, Kayla Sotelo 83-83 -- 166, Leinati Leniu 177 and Kaylynn Ward 180. The Comets played without their No. 1 player, Beth Sellers, who missed the tournament due to personal reasons. Sellers & Comets win 317-441 vs. Santa Ana
The Comets defeated visiting Santa Ana 317-441 at San Luis Rey Golf Club as freshman Beth Sellers (left) medaled with a 76. One week earlier, Sellers medaled in the prestigious South Coast Classic in Ventura as Palomar finished third out of 10 teams. On Monday, Meagan Pechner shot an 80, Jessica Miller 80, Busby 81, Kayla Sotelo 88, Kaylynn Ward 91 and Hannah Gelormeni 105. Sellers medals; Comets 3rd out of 10 teams
VENTURA (9-1-09) -- Freshman Beth Sellers (left), a highly-regarded veteran of national and international junior circuit, tied Bakersfield's Katherine James for medalist honors with a 76-75 --151 Sunday and Monday as Palomar placed third of 10 teams in the season-opening South Coast Classic. Sellers came back from a 3-stroke deficit after the first day at Buenaventura Golf Club and Olivas Lakes Golf Club. Also for the Comets, defending Southern California champion Cora Busby (right) shot a 77-79 -- 156, Kayla Sotelo 89-89 -- 178, Leinati Leniu 97-96 -- 193 and Kaylynn Ward 102-97 -- 199. Meagan Pechner withdrew the first day after being hit in the head with a ball but came back with a 83 -- and a headache -- on Monday. Bakersfield and defending state champion Santa Barbara City College played 1-2 in team scoring. Palomar will host Santa Ana in its home opener on Monday, Sept. 7, in a non-conference match at noon San Luis Rey Golf Club. Palomar looks to improve on historic season
Coach Mark Eldridge had a big recruiting year and will take a strong, deep contingent into a season that will last from late August through the State finals on Nov. 15-16 at Kings County Country Club in Hanford. Eldridge landed two top newcomers in transfer Jessica Milner, who played for the University of Colorado last season, and freshman Beth Sellers, a veteran of the Callaway Junior World Championship, the U.S. Girls' Junior Golf Championship, the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and the Callaway Golf PGA Junior Series. The Comets will play five home matches, beginning with a Sept. 7 non-conference match-up with Santa Ana College at San Luis Rey Golf Club and concluding with the Foothill Conference Championships on Nov. 2-3 at Lake San Marcos Country Club. ------ Washburn commits to Jamestown College (ND)
Washburn, who has been accepted into Jamestown's nationally-recognized nursing program, is the first four-year college scholarship recipient for Palomar's two-year-old women's golf team. She carded a 77 on the first day of the California community college championships to lead the Comets to first place after the first day. She shot a best season's score of 76 at El Prado Golf Club in Chino Hills.as the Foothill Conference champion Comets defeated Mt. SAC, Long Beach City College and College of the Desert by a 20-stroke margin in a conference match on Nov. 1. At Jamestown, where Palomar athletes have previously gone on to stellar careers in men's basketball and baseball, Washburn will play for coach Adam Jacobson. She played for coach Mark Eldridge at Palomar. Croll second '08 golfer to accept scholarship
Croll, who was a freshman on the '08 squad, is on her way to play for Kansas Wesleyan University, an NCAA Division II school which is located in Salina, Kansas. Croll prepped at Paloma Valley High School in Menifee. 2009 Schedule, Results
Home matches listed in bold 2009 Roster
Contact information for prospective women's golfers: Coach Mark Eldridge
2008 season
2008 FOOTHILL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS, SOUTHERN CAL RUNNERS-UP, STATE 3RD-PLACE FINISHERS: From left: Julie Croll, coach Mark Eldridge, Jeanette Washburn, Lianati Leniu, Lauren Skladanek, Kaylynn Ward, coach Jon Floming, Foothill Conference champion Cora Busby. -- (Photo by Rick Rowell) Comets bring home 3rd in state in 2nd year
Santa Barbara City College won the title at 326-311--63, followed by Sacramento City (333-327--652), the Comets (322-341--663) and Sierra (339-330--664). Cora Busby (left) led Palomar with a two-day score of 80-83--163. Jeanette Washburn shot a 77-8 --164, Julie Croll 79-85--164 and Lienati Leniu 86-86--172 at par-72 Olivas Links Golf Course. Santa Barbara's Asaka Sim medaled with a 79-74 -- 153. Washburn at 77; Comets lead state after 1st day
Julie Croll had a 79, Cora Busby 80 and Lienati Leniu 86. "Jeanette Washburn came up huge. So did Julie Croll," coach Mark Eldridge said. Santa Barbara City College is four strokes back of the Comets at 326, followed by Sacramento City College (333) and Sierra 339.Cristina Casillas of Sacramento leads the field two-over par 74. Sacramento City College is four strokes back of the Comets at 326, followed by Sacramento City College (333) and Sierra 339. Comets take 2nd in Southern Cal; Busby medals
SoCal champion Santa Barbara City College (700) and the Comets (719) qualify for the state championships next Monday and Tuesday at Las Olivas Golf Course in Ventura. Failing to qualify: third place Santiago Canyon (728), first-day leader Irvine Valley (731), defending state champion College of the Canyons (752) and Long Beach City College (795). Other Palomar scorers were Julie Croll (right, 90-182), Jeanette Washburn (91-186) and Lienati Leniu (90-187). Comets top off title; Busby, coaches honored
The Comets' Mark Eldridge and Jon Fleming were named Coaches of the Year.. Lienati Leniu (87), Julie Croll (88) and Jeanette Washburn (91) were other scorers. Washburn, No. 2 behind Busby in the conference on the season, and Leniu also were all-conference. Palomar had a 349 to win, followed by Long Beach City College (370), Mt. SAC (370) and College of the Desert (377). Comets clinch Foothill title in 1st round of finals LONG BEACH (10-26-08) -- Palomar clinched the undisputed Foothill Conference women's championship in the program's second season of existence on Sunday, placing first in the first round of the conference finals. The Comets' Cora Busby (took medalist honors with an 80 on the par-74 Recreation Park Golf Course. Teammate Lienati Leniu placed second over the field with an 86. Palomar had a 355 score for the day, followed by College of the Desert at 367, Long Beach City College at 370 and Mtr. SC at 373. The 36-hole event concludes on Monday with round 2. Busby 10th of 119; Comets hold on vs. 4-yr. foes
Busby, who finished with a 36-hole total of 164, was the No. 2 community college finisher in the field and the top Southern California finisher. The Comets placed 10th in the tournament, which included 22 teams, plus individuals from six other colleges. The University of British Columbia won the tournament, followed by second-place and host team Cal State Monterey Bay, third-place Chico State, fourth-place Sonoma State, fifth-place University of Victoria and sixth-place Dallas Baptist. For the Comets, Jeanette Washburn shot an 89 on the second day, Julie Croll 91 and Leanati Leniu 91. Busby (74), Washburn (76) lead 20-stroke victory
Busby broke the school record of 78 she shared by four strokes and Washburn bettered the mark by two strokes as the Comets set a school team record of 324 in winning by 20 strokes. Palomar overwhelmed runner-up Mt. SAC (344), Long Beach City College (354) and College of the Desert (357) in the four-way Foothill Conference match at El Prado Golf Course. The Comets advanced to 3-0 after winning two previous conference four-ways in Desert Hot Springs and Long Beach, each by 10 strokes. Wednesday was the third straight match that Busby has medaled. Palomar's other scorers in the match were Leinati Leniu, who shot an 85, and Kaylynn Ward, who carded an 89. The Comets' other golfers on Wednesday were Julie Kroll with a 90 and Lauren Skladanek with a 93. Busby shot a personal record by four strokes, Washburn by seven strokes, Wood by nine strokes and Skladanek by three strokes. "We're just ringing up PR's (personal records) left and right," Eldridge said. "You've got to credit both the golfers and (assistant coach) Jon Fleming for that. He is really coaching them up." Fleming is a former Palomar and NCAA Division I (Cal Poly) baseball pitcher who is working toward becoming a tour pro. Busby (78), Comets win by 10 strokes -- again
Palomar (356) defeated second-place Long Beach College (366), College of the Desert (369) and Mt. SAC (371) at El Dorado Golf Club and is firmly atop the Foothill standings two week into the season. Jeanette Washburn (92), Leinati Leniu (92) and Julie Kroll (94) were the Comets' other scorers. Comets win first conference 4-way by 10 strokes
Coach Mark Eldridge's team finished with a 334 total in the match, which was hosted by COD at Mission Lakes Country Club. The Roadrunners and Mt. SAC each had a 344. Long Beach City College was fourth with a 362. Cora Busby led Palomar with a lifetime-best 82. Jeanette Washburn (left) and Leinati Leniu each carded 83s. Julie Kroll shot an 86. Palomar legend, golfers return for 2nd season
The Comets have high hopes of making a quantum jump from the solid foundation set by last year's first-ever Palomar squad. Eldridge (left) has been a fixture in Palomar's athletic program since he was a three-sport standout for the Comets (football, baseball, track & field) in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Returning to his alma mater after starting at safety in football for Washington State University and a stint as a premier javelin thrower at Cal State Long Beach, Eldridge started Palomar's wildly-successful women's softball program back in 1978, when his team tied for the championship in the old Mission Conference. He compiled a 1,040-272-6 record over the next 29 seasons. He took the 2006 and 2007 seasons off and is returning as the school's softball coach for the spring 2009 season. Eldridge coached Palomar to state community college softball championships in 1989,1993 and 2000. He also guided the Comets to five second-place finishes in the state tournament, six third-place finishes and four fourth-place finishes. Overall, his teams have won 26 conference championships in 29 years. Eldridge has produced 29 community college All-Americans. He's been named National Community College Coach of the Year twice and California Coach of the Year six times. Even more important than the victories and championships, Eldridge said he's proud of the 145 softball scholarship players he has sent on to play at the four-year college level. "That's the biggest reason we're here," Eldridge said. "The most important things are four-year college scholarships, preparing players for the next level, to graduate from college and to be successful in life." He brings the same philosophy of preparing student athletes for the next level -- as well as winning at this level -- to the Palomar women's golf program. Jon Fleming, another outstanding former Palomar athlete, returns for his second season as Eldridge's assistant golf coach. Fleming, a budding professional golfer, was an All-Pacific Coast Conference baseball pitcher for the Comets, compiling a 1.74 earned-run average in conference games during the 2004 season. His .826 winning percentage (19 wins, 4 losses) is fourth best in Palomar history. His 147 career strikeouts ranks as the fourth best total in school history. Fleming went on to pitch at the NCAA Division I level for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before seeing his career ended by an arm injury -- and switching sports to golf, in which his eventual goal is to become the second Palomar alumnus (the other being 1977 state community college men's champion Mark Wiebe) onto play on the PGA Tour. The Comets again are members of the Foothill Conference in women's golf and again are playing their home matches at San Luis Rey Golf Resort at San Luis Rey Downs in Bonsall. The other members of the Foothill Conference in women's golf are College of the Desert, Long Beach City College, Mt. SAC and Mt. San Jacinto. 2008 Schedule, Results
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