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

BONSALL (9-7-09) -- Palomar's women's golf team, which placed second in Southern California and third in the state a year ago, opened its home season on Monday in dominant fashion.

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

SAN MARCOS (8-25-09) -- Cora Busby (left) returns to defend her Southern California Community College individual championship and Palomar has strong hopes of improving on a 2008 season that saw the Comets win the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference title and place second in team scoring in Southern Cal and third in the CCCAC California State Championships.

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.

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Washburn commits to Jamestown College (ND)

JAMESTOWN, North Dakota (5-14-09) -- Jeanette Washburn, a sophomore from Temecula Valley High School who helped lead Palomar to third in the CCCAA State Championships this past Fall, has committed to Jamestown College.

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

SALINA, Kansas (8-16-09) -- Julie Croll has become the second player from Palomar's 2008 championship season to accept a golf scholarship to a four-year college.

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

• Phone: (760) 744-1150, ext. 2469

• E-Mail: meldridge@palomar.edu

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

VENTURA (11-18-08) -- Playing in on its second season, coach Mark Eldridge's Palomar women's golf team brought home the third-place team trophy in the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships on Tuesday after leading the field after the first day.

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

VENTURA (11-17-08) -- Jeanette Washburn (left) carded a 77, Julie Croll shot a 79 and Palomar is in first place after the first day of the California Community College Athletic Association state tournament Monday with a team total of 322 for the first 18 holes.

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

DESERT HOT SPRINGS (11-11-08) -- Freshman Cora Busby (left) medaled and Palomar came from 12 strokes back to place second in the Southern California Community College Women's Golf Championships on Tuesday in just the second season of the program. Busby carded an 81 to finish with a two-day total of 164 on the difficult Desert Dunes Golf Club course.

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

LONG BEACH (10-27-08) --  Palomar, which clinched the Foothill Conference title on Sunday, topped the field again Monday, winning its fifth 18-hole competition in six tries (including five in the regular season) on the second day of the conference finals. Cora Busby (left) medaled again with an 83 on the difficult par-74 Rec Park course and was selected Player of the year in the conference.

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 (74), Washburn (76) lead 20-stroke victory

CHINO (10-1-08) -- Freshman Cora Busby (74), left, and sophomore Jeanette Washburn (76), right, both shattered Palomar's existing school record for 18 holes, keeping coach Mark Eldridge's second-year Comet team unbeaten.

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

LONG BEACH (9-24-08) -- History repeated itself for Palomar's second-year women's golf team on Wednesday behind medalist Cora Busby's school-record 78. Coach Mark Eldridge's Comets beat the field by 10 strokes for the second straight week as they won another Foothill Conference four-way match.

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

DESERT HOT SPRINGS (9-17-08) -- Palomar placed its four scorers within four strokes of each other and won the first Foothill Conference four-way match of the 2008 season on Monday by 10 strokes over College of the Desert and Mt. SAC.

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

SAN MARCOS (9-1-08) -- Palomar's women's golf team, sponsored by TaylorMade / adidas and guided by head coach Mark Eldridge and assistant coach Jon Fleming, returns for its second season in 2008.

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