Last week's weather left the course in Solvang like a river causing the championship--regularly scheduled as a two-day 36-hole event--to be shortened to just the opening 18 holes due to the relentless rain that made the golf course unplayable.
On Sunday, both Orange Coast College and the Tigers (both shooing for the schools first women's state title) had team rounds of 323. Modesto Junior College was another stroke back at 324. The next best 4th place team (College of the Canyons) was 20 strokes behind the top three. The conditions on day one were extremely difficult in spite of the greens holding up for the first day. That was not to be the case on Day 2, and unfortunately the superintendent of the River Course at Alisal had to make a tough decision which declared the course unplayable.
Mother Nature and 3C2A championship handbook rules moved the Reedley College women's golf team into a second place finish in the 3C2A State golf championships on Mondaydue to the tiebreaker format. This was an unprecedented weather event and there were no protocols for a golf course to be deemed uplayable. Therefore the regular tigbreak format was followed per 3C2A rules.
Reedley lost one tiebreaker, but won the other: the tiebreaker for the individual state championship. That honor went to Reedley College freshman Tessa Hernandez, who won in a card-off over defending state champion, Saha Kiabatake from College of the Canyons, who both shot an even-par score of 72 on Day 1. A difficult pill to swallow as the Tigers had beaten Orange Coast twice during the season. However, the individual title helped to numb the sting a bit as the TIgers were recognized on the championship podium.
"Honestly, i wasn't really expecting it (the weather), so on the Friday before we came here, I went out and by myself, some rain gear," Hernandez told 3C2A sports. My main goal was to keep my grips dry and keep a calm attitude and a cool head because getting mad or frustrated in this weather, it's not something that will help you out. Winning the individual title really means a lot because actually I wanted to win this for my teammates., but I also want this for my grandpa."
A bittersweet end to a TREMENDOUS and unprecedented UNDEFEATED season for the Tigers. "The hard work and dedication that our girls put in was truly Hall of Fame worthy.... I'm so proud of them all. Overall, it was a great season and we will look to return next year and finish the job" stated Coach Stark.
Congrats TIGERS!
Tessa Hernandez: 2025 3C2A Women's Golf Individual Champion