This years’ Trinity League girls’ golf championships didn’t have the same drama as last season.
Chayse Gomez of Rosary led by a stroke after Day 1 at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills, shooting a one-over par 75 on Oct. 18. She followed that up two days later with a one-over 72 at Dad Miller golf course in Anaheim to claim the individual title by three strokes over teammate Caroline Cantlay and Santa Margarita sophomore Kiara Boggs.
Rylie Edwards of Santa Margarita, the defending league champion, finished seven strokes back in sixth.
Last season, Edwards also started the final round at Dad Miller in fifth place, four strokes behind Cantlay, the co-leader. She then proceeded to shoot a 1-under 70 to pull into a tie for first with Cantlay.
A playoff ensued and both players parred the first hole before Edwards made a long, curling putt from just off the green on the second. Cantlay then stepped up and made a similar 30-footer to continue the playoff. That’s when it finally came to an end as both players faced lengthy putts on the third playoff hole, but only Edwards’ fell, giving her the individual league title.
Adding to the interest this season was the steady improvement of Boggs, who was medalist a team-leading four times last season. She medaled in six of the first nine matches this season and carried a team-high 37.6 scoring average through 12 matches.
Hegna said Boggs was motivated by the desire to win Trinity League team and individual titles, a quest that grew in importance as she watched Edwards get honored at the team banquet after last season.
“I think it really inspired and motivated her in the offseason,” Hegna said.
Boggs played 13 competitive 18-hole rounds between February and August on the PGA California Junior Tour, highlighted by a victory in the 15-18 age division at the El Prado Chino Creek Summer Championship in early June, when she shot a four-over 76.
The junior tour also included 18-hole stops at Los Serranos and Dad Miller, site of the Trinity League championships.
Edwards started slowly this season, then was medalist in back-to-back Trinity League victories against Mater Dei on Sept. 29 and again against Orange Lutheran on Oct. 4.
Cantlay, who has committed to play collegiately at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was the only Trinity League player to qualify for the Southern State regional out of the CIF-SS individual finals last season. She also played well in offseason junior tournaments and enters her final year of high school determined to play at a high level.
The team competition wasn’t as unpredictable this season.
Santa Margarita won the team title last season, its first since 2009, and then defended its team title by winning all eight head-to-head matches in league play this season. Mater Dei won the previous five league championships, but didn’t have the depth to get past Santa Margarita again this season.
The Eagles beat Mater Dei by 10 strokes on Sept. 29 at Coto de Caza Country Club, and by three strokes Oct. 11 at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course in Irvine, securing their undefeated league run.
Rosary not only returned Cantlay this season, but Gomez, a sophomore who earned medalist honors at the season-opening Rosary Shotgun tournament in late August, shooting an even-par 35 at Western Hills Country Club.