SOMIS “”mdash; Heading into the back nine of Wednesday’s
final round of the Pac-10 Championships, the question being
whispered around Saticoy Country Club was no longer which team
would reign triumphant.
UCLA had already answered that convincingly.
Instead, spectators and players alike stood wondering which
Bruin would take the course by the throat and walk away as the
individual champion, fearless freshman Hannah Jun or seasoned
junior Charlotte Mayorkas.
The back-nine battle, ultimately won by Mayorkas, upstaged a
relatively easy victory for No. 2 UCLA, which with its collective
38-over par total, is taking the conference championship trophy
back to Westwood for the first time in 13 years. UCLA finished 18
shots ahead of second-place California.
Bruin coach Carrie Forsyth, who was a player on that last
championship squad back in 1991, found the experience of winning
the title in a coaching capacity quite different. For one thing,
she was at a loss explaining the salty discharge from her eyes.
“I’ve come full circle,” said a teary-eyed
Forsyth. “It’s weird to be on this side of
it.”
With UCLA having minimized the drama of the team competition
fairly early in the third round, the attention shifted squarely
onto Jun and Mayorkas, who came into their respective back nines
within one shot of each other and both vying desperately to claim
medallist honors.
Trapped in the uncomfortable setting of having to play with and
against a fellow teammate, it was Mayorkas who kept her head above
the fray, using her collegiate experience to outlast Jun’s
youthful exuberance.
But just barely.
On the par-4 16th hole, Mayorkas was faced with a similar birdie
putt that Jun had failed to convert just minutes before. Mayorkas
drained the putt as well as any remaining doubt as to who would
come away as champion.
“I think the scales were tipped toward Charlotte,”
Forsyth said. “If you’re going to win, you need to make
those putts, and Charlotte made hers.”
Mayorkas shot a 1-over par 73 in Wednesday’s final round
to finish the championship at 2-over par, claiming her fourth
individual title of the year, and easily the most significant.
“It feels really good,” said Mayorkas, still a bit
disappointed with her bogey on the 18th hole. “It’s
over, and that’s all that matters. It definitely means a
lot.”
Mayorkas had to hold off Jun, who with her final round 3-over
par 75, finished alone in second place with a 4-over par total for
the tournament.
Though Jun got her back nine off to a great start on the par-3
10th hole by hitting a knock down 6-iron from 163 yards to within
four feet for birdie, that would be the last birdie of her round as
her charge stalled.
Jun three-putted the par-3 13th and missed a quality birdie
opportunity on the par-4 16th, leaving the door open for
Mayorkas’ name to climb atop the leaderboard.
“It’s kind of disappointing, but I’ll get over
it,” Jun said. “I’m really happy for
(Mayorkas).”
Though their victory tasted sweet, the Bruins were tempered in
their celebration, very aware that the conference championship is
only the first obstacle they’ll have to overcome on their way
to securing a national title.
Still, it’s a good way to start.
“This is just the beginning,” Jun said.
“Frosting on the cake.”