The women’s golf team ended its season with an overall record of 35-5, placing second in the state behind College of the Canyons. The Lady Vaqueros were defending state champions, but they lost by 13 strokes in this year’s two-day state championships.

The team will lose two sophomores after this year, one of which is Natalie Todd, the defending state champion in individuals and this year’s Western State Conference individual League Champion.

Natalie will attend Cal State San Marcos next year and continue to play.

“She will be the best player by far, her leadership qualities, and competitiveness will really make her next team stronger,” Coach Chuck Melendez said.

Pearl Schuman, the two-time first team all-league player and second place winner in individuals this year, hasn’t decided where she will go next.

“I am looking at a lot of D2 schools, but I still have a lot of options open,” Schuman said. “I really want to play at the best level I can possibly put myself in.”

Schuman shot a 78 in the second day of the state championship tournament, which she considered her best tournament of the season.

“I was very proud of the way I played, but it wasn’t enough to beat College of the Canyons,” she said.

College of the Canyons defeated City College in the state championships, but earlier in the season the Vaqueros beat Canyons in the two-day Western State Conference league match by 40 strokes.

The Lady Vaqueros’ fondest memory of their season was when they traveled to Monterey Bay and played against 25 other colleges. The event consisted of both community college and UC schools at the Divison 2 level. The Vaqs placed seventh out of the 25 attending schools.

“We worked really hard to do our best in the tournament, and the hard work paid off,” said freshman Kristine Baad.

“The team was really committed this year, than last year’s team. Everyone showed up to practice, and we each helped each other push hard to succeed on the green,” Schuman said.

Coach Melendez has coached both the women’s and men’s golf team for eight years in a row and speaks very highly of this year’s squad.

“This team has been the best I have ever coached here at City College,” he said. “The girls show up to practice and they’re ready to go to work, we have a lot of quality players, and that’s why I think we’ve been very strong in state for the past couple of years.”

The freshmen will outnumber the sophomores in 2008, which will be a challenge for the upcoming season. The next season for Vaquero Women’s golf begins Aug.15, 2008.