STOCKTON — This time, the weather wasn’t a nuisance.
In fact, many of the female high school golfers expressed relief and joy playing in sunny and clear conditions at The Reserve at Spanos Park on Monday for the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Tournament, something Turlock Christian High junior golfer Kathleen Rojas didn’t mind at all.
The week before, she played in what was considered as “unplayable conditions” at the Division V Championships at Stevinson Ranch.
On Monday, Rojas got a chance to play in ideal weather — and almost pulled off another incredible run. But she just came up short. She was one stroke short of qualifying for the CIF Northern California Championships next week, finishing with a heartbreaking 4-par-over 76.
Marissa Hinchman of Lodi High secured the fourth and final individual spot by firing a 75. Other individual winners were Enochs High’s Shawnee Martinez (71), Granite Bay High’s Paige Lee (72) and Center High’s Sagee Palavivatana (73).
But Rojas’ past two performances are still memorable.
It started at the D-V tournament at Stevinson Ranch on Oct. 27, her first 18-hole round in two months. Rojas overcame a dust storm to shoot an 84 when breaking 100 seemed nearly impossible on that day.
After two seasons, Rojas decided to enter the girls golf postseason as an at-large bid. She now will prepare for Turlock Christian boys golf in the spring.
To contact Chhun Sun, e-mail csun@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.