GAUCHOS CAPTURE STATE TITLE

Saddleback's Carling Cho (Dana Hills HS) recorded five birdies on the back nine to finish with a 1-under-par 72, earning individual medalist honors and leading the Gauchos to their first team title in six seasons of intercollegiate competition.

Anna Gudmundsson (Sweden) carded a 79 while Nicole Bloch (San Clemente HS) added an 81 and Christina Austin (Santa Margarita CHS) finished with an 86 to account for the team's scoring.

Cho is the third Saddleback golfer in six years to earn individual state champion honors, following in the footsteps of Selby Schriber (1998) and Karlie Ward (1999). She edged Mt. San Antonio's top golfer, Yumi Chung (75), by three strokes in an 18-hole championship which turned from rainy and wet morning conditions to clearing in the afternoon. Gudmundsson finished fourth individually.

Cho, who has committed to U.C. Irvine for next season, went unbeaten on the year. She was the medalist in 14 events and was the co-medalist with Chung last week at the Southern California Regional Championship.

Reported by Jerry Hannula, Saddleback College SID