MURRIETA – A new Southwestern League girls’ golf season starts in a little less than a week and as Vista Murrieta and Temecula Valley look to defend their shared team title of a year ago. Lauren Sammon (Vista Murrieta) is the league’s defending individual champion after shooting rounds of 68-65=133 (-9) at Hemet Golf Club and reaching a CIF-State final.
Let’s take a look back at last year and ahead to the race for that team championship which begins on Tuesday, September 12.
Team Standings:
- Vista Murrieta and Temecula Valley 8-2
- Great Oak 7-3
T4. Murrieta Valley and Chaparral 3-7
- Murrieta Mesa 0-10
CIF-SS Qualifiers (9 last year, 8 in 2023):
- Lauren Sammon (VM) 133, 2. Brooke Carpenter (GO) 156, 3. Kimi Arabe (TV) 165, 4. Rylee Rainosek (MV) 168, 5. Jaclyn Jacques (Chap) 173, 6. Kahlea Manalang (VM) 175, 7. Krissy Dinsenbacher (Chap) 177, 8. Gwenyth Dempsey (GO) 178, 9. Madison Murakami (GO) 180
Next, we’ll go team by team and take a look at players to watch (graduation year in parentheses) along with early results…
Vista Murrieta
Head Coach: Ryan Heise
Players to watch:
- Lauren Sammon (2024)- A verbal commit to Wisconsin who has won back-to-back league championships along with the 2021 (Spring) CIF-SS Individual Title at River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard. She was also the CIF-State Southern California regional runner-up last fall and finished T16 at the state finals.
- Breanna Noble (2027)- Noble, an incoming freshman, comes to Vista Murrieta after being part of an SCGA Four-Ball gross division championship team with friend Hannah Bagnell earlier this year. She also has a pair of top 25s in AJGA competition in 2023.
- Wren Saithong (2027)- Heise believes this talented freshman will also be among those fighting for eight available spots to the CIF-SS Individual qualifier in October.
Early in the 2023 season Vista Murrieta is 2-2 and averaging 233.5 for nine holes as a team. “We have high hopes for back-to-back league championships and the team is working hard to achieve that goal,” Heise said.
Temecula Valley
Head Coach: Shannon Wolter
Players to watch:
Kimi Arabe (2024)- One of the nine CIF-SS qualifiers from last year will lead the Golden Bears in defense of their Southwestern League title of a year ago.
Bridget Gibney (2027)-
Laila Benavente (2025)-
“We have a tenacious group of young ladies and are looking forward to the season ahead,” Wolter said.
Great Oak
Head Coach: Rachel Reif
Players to watch:
- Brooke Carpenter (2024)- Last year’s Southwestern League runner-up and a multiple time CIF-SS postseason qualifier.
- Gwyneth Dempsey (2024)- Dempsey is another multiple time CIF-SS qualifier looking to finish her career on a high note.
- Jessica Li (2025)- Earned medalist honors at the Riverside Poly tournament last Monday in 100+ degree temperatures by shooting a one over par round of 73 at Victoria Club, home of last year’s CCAA tournament.
- Skyler Earle (2027)- Started her HS career off with an 80 in the Poly tournament last Monday and has a pair of top tens in SCPGA Junior Tour competition this summer.
Great Oak opened the season with a 203 against Torrey Pines at Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club and shot 417 in that Poly tournament to finish in second behind Walnut, a Southern California regional power. The Pack nearly had a three-way tie for that Southwestern League title last year but lost their regular season finale to Chaparral.
“We’re looking forward to our best season yet at Great Oak,” Reif said. “We have two excellent senior leaders and eight players within three shots of each other in practice providing depth as they challenge each other for those fifth and sixth spots. Our league has a lot of talent across the board and it’s going to be a fun year down here.”
Chaparral
Head Coach: Kyle Warren
Players to watch:
Jaclyn Jacques (2024)- A CIF-SS postseason qualifier last year looking to finish her career off with another appearance in that tournament.
Lily Canava (2027)- According to coach Warren is showing a great work ethic early on and has huge potential.
Grace Kang (2025)-Warren said she has put in the work this summer and is looking for a consistent spot in the Puma lineup.
“Our goals for this season are to play hard and have as much fun as possible.” Warren said.
Murrieta Valley
Head Coach: Rogelio Gallegos
Players to watch:
Riley Rainosek (2025)- A CIF-SS qualifier last year who finished fourth at the league tournament is expected to have another great season.
Maddie Sammon (2027)-Another talented freshman (yes, the sister of back-to-back individual defending champion Lauren Sammon) who has gotten off to a solid start. She’s posted three sub 40 scores in dual matches and a 76 at Victoria Club in Riverside Poly tournament play.
“Amanda Aylward and Kaia Dobbins have shown improvement at the start of the year to give us a solid one through four with Riley and Maddie, but we are looking for a couple of players to step up and give good scores from those fifth and sixth spots. I’m looking forward to another great year in the Southwestern League and am lucky to coach an outstanding group of young ladies.”
Murrieta Mesa was 0-10 in league play a season ago and also failed to have a player reach day two in league tournament action.
Southwestern League individual tournament play in 2023 is scheduled for Oct. 18 and 19 at Menifee Lakes Country Club’s Lakes Course as announced by Heise on Wednesday, Sept. 6.
Derryl Trujillo can be reached at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.
