SBCC, Johansson claim JC State Golf Championships

The Santa Barbara City College women's golf team after winning the State Championship

The Santa Barbara City College women’s golf team after winning the State Championship

Fanny Johansson shot 77 on Tuesday and SBCC got a giant lift from its last two players that vaulted the Vaqueros to their third Women?s Golf State Championship in the last eight years.

Johansson, a freshman from Sweden, was the individual champion, finishing eight shots ahead of the field at 5-over 151 (74-77). Nea Bennett (80-79) of Fullerton was the runner-up at 159.

Fanny Johansson won the individual title at the State Championships.

Freshman Fanny Johansson won the individual title at the State Championships.

?We struggled a little today but it was a tough course,? said Johansson, who had three birdies. ?My long game was good but I had a hard time putting. It was great to see our final two players shoot under 85. They really came through.?

Jackie Ramirez, the Vaqueros? No. 5 player, shot 84 and No. 6 Megan Herrera turned in an 82 as Santa Barbara shot 329 for a 646 total. The Southern Cal Regional champs beat Fullerton (327-323) by four shots and Northern Cal champ Canada by 18. Modesto was fourth at 696.

?This feels really good,? said SBCC coach Chuck Melendez, after winning his third state title. ?I?m very proud of this team. We worked extremely hard and got better and better as the year went on.?

It?s the ninth overall State title in SBCC history and the last three have all come in women?s golf (2006, 2008, 2013).

The Vaqueros, who won the WSC with a perfect 32-0 mark, went 66-3 on the season.

Ramirez and Herrera were the only Vaqueros who shot better than their first-round score, improving by three and six strokes, respectively. Vanesa Villa (77-86) and Saralisa Ortega (83-86) both totaled 169 for the second-best scores on the Vaqueros? card.

State Championships
Final 36-hole scores

At par-73 Tracy Country Club
Team — 1, SBCC 317-329–646. 2, Fullerton 327-323–650. 3, Canada 333-331–664. 4, Modesto 342-354–696.
Individual (par 73) ? 1, Fanny Johansson, SBCC, 74-77–151. 2, Nea Bennett, Fullerton, 80-79–159
SBCC scores — 1, Johansson 74-77–151. Vanesa Villa 77-86–169, Saralisa Ortega 83-86–169, Maggie Daly 83-87–170, Jackie Ramirez 87-84–171, Megan Herrera 88-82–170.