WATSON MAKING A LATE SURGE FOR MARAUDER WOMEN'S GOLF

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

BAKERSFIELD - Each week the Marauder women's golf team is slowly rounding into form, no pun intended.

It shows each week.

Of course Michaela Klundt is the staple of the team, however, it seems one week Amy Chaffino will shoot her best round of the season, or then it's RyAnne Gaston, one week it was Kourtney Rogers and on Monday it was Emma Watson, who shot her best round of the season with a 90 at the Rio Bravo Country Club in Bakersfield, hosted by Bakersfield College.

"It was a good round. If it was wasn't windy I would have definitely shot in the 80's," Watson said. "I'm pleased with my performance. It's way better than last year. The team is working hard for each other this year. I know we can continue to keep improving. I like where the team is at right now."

The Marauders really have a legitimate chance at finishing among the top two in the conference. AVC finished fifth on Monday but only 13 strokes separated second and fifth place. Santa Barbara City College won again as it remains one of the favorites to win the state title.

Klundt led AVC with an 85, well off the typical scores she is used to having. However, she still finished tied for fourth overall. Watson was second, followed by Gaston (96) and Chaffino (99). SBCC's Stephanie Farouze was first overall with a 79 followed by her teammate Vanessa Watkins who shot an 81.

"It was quite challenging because there was the craziest of winds and my allergies were acting up really bad. Overall the team didn't do its best, but neither did the other teams (because of the conditions). The winds were so crazy. It was really hard to read the course," Chaffino said. "Definitely all of us across the board, there are ways we can eliminate strokes. There are many teams we can beat. All around, we're all kind of improving and we're right there. We all know it, we all feel it. We're only a few strokes behind a couple of schools."

Fetters said that if the team continues to improve and each player drops four to five strokes, his team will be a team to be reckoned with.

"With the end of our season approaching, we continue to gain momentum," AVC head coach George Fetters said. "Hopefully we can peak at the end of the season during our conference meet."