The competitors at the Channel League Girls Golf Championships in Ojai.
Dos Pueblos’ Megan Caird claimed a Channel League Championship on Tuesday by completing a six-stroke comeback in regulation before capturing the title in a three-hole playoff against Santa Barbara High’s Eleonora DiCarlo.
Starting the day six-strokes back, Caird’s 77 matched Isabella Doub – the 2011 league champ – for the best round on the second day of the league championship at Soule Park in Ojai.
Caird stayed alive by picking up two strokes on the final two holes of regulation to catch DiCarlo and force the playoff. Both players parred the first playoff hole and birdied the second.
“The playoff started back on the first hole as all the DP and SB coaches and players walked along. Both were visibly nervous but shook it off and played lights out,” said Chargers coach Dan Choi.
On the deciding hole, an uphill par-3 surrounded with deep bunkers on both sides, both hit quality tee shots hitting the green within 15 feet of the flag. Slightly away, Caird buried her putt to put the pressure on DiCarlo. From about nine feet out, her putt came up just short.
DiCarlo held her opening-round lead through the first six holes before running into trouble on the 7th and 8th holes, when Caird quickly made up six strokes.
Suddenly Caird was in the lead at the turn, but still needed to overcome a triple bogey on 13 to force the playoff.
Leah Dunn’s 85 was the fourth-best round on Day 2, with Melissa Jewkes and Miraya Ramirez carding 88s.
Overall, Doub placed third just one stroke back from the leaders. Jamie Sharp came in 4th at 173 and Melissa Jewkes was 5th at 174.
Caird, DiCarlo, Doub and Sharp qualify for the CIF Individuals for their top-4 performances, which will be played next Monday at River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard.
Caird, only a sophomore, is Dos Pueblos’ first league champion since Vanesa Villa in 2010.
CHANNEL LEAGUE FINALS
At Soule Park
Megan Caird – DP – 81 77?? 158
Eleonora Dicarlo – SB – 75 83 ? 158
Isabella Doub – SB – 82 77?? 159
Jamie Sharp – DP – 83 90 ? 173
Melissa Jewkes SM – 86 88 ? 174
Maraya Ramirez – DP – 87 88 ? 175
Leah Dunn – DP – 93 85 ? 178
Macy Broesanle – DP – 91 96 ? 187
Lauren Pitchford – SM – 89 101 ? 190
Glenda Marshall – V – 92 98 ? 190
Alex Pitchford – SM – 97 95 ? 192
Thia Morrisett – B – 98 98 ? 196
Madi Huber – B – 99 101 ? 200
Kelsey Gellert – SM – 98 114 ? 212
Makenzie McBride – SM – 92 DNF
Mika Hendruckson – DP – 88 ?DNF
