CHO KNOWS THE WAY HOME FROM SAN JOSE

Released on: October 8 2003
Contact: Jerry Hannula - Saddleback SID, (949) 582-4490
jhannula@saddleback.edu

Saddleback College sophomore golfer Carling Cho knew the way to San Jose. She also knew how to get back home.

Cho, a 2002 graduate of Dana Hills High School (Dana Point, CA), was her team's Most Valuable Player for four straight years. She earned all-league honors in each of those seasons and all-county recognition for three years. It was not surprising that the four-year colleges started to notice her talent.

It was San Jose State University that finally wooed her away from her Southern California roots, and she played for the Spartans during the 2002-2003 school year. She had a top 10 finish at the Oregon State Invitational and again at the WAC championship.

But Cho returned home after her freshman season and enrolled at Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, CA). She was eligible to compete immediately at the community college, to the delight of the Gauchos' head coach Bill Cunerty.

In nine rounds for Saddleback this season, Cho has been the individual medalist in every event with four sub-par rounds, one even-par round, and has had two rounds at 1-over par. She averages 71.3 strokes per round, while the average par rating for the first nine courses has been 71.7. She really enjoys the par-72 El Prado Golf Course in Chino where, in three rounds this year, she has carded two 69's and a 67.

"She's shot par or better in half of her rounds," Cunerty said. "That's never been done at Saddleback and has probably never been done in the history of California community college women's golf. It's really something special to watch."

Cunerty should know good golf when he sees it. In addition to being a member of the Southern California Golf Association's Board of Directors, he has also coached the Saddleback men's teams to 20 Orange Empire Conference titles in the past 22 years. His men's teams have qualified for the state tournament 18 times and have captured five state championships.

Women's golf is only in its sixth season at Saddleback College. Already, Cunerty has had two players capture individual state titles (Selby Schriber in 1998, Karly Ward in 1999) and his teams have won three consecutive conference championships (2000, '01, '02). At 8-0 midway through conference play, this year's team looks on course to win a fourth conference title and Cho would appear to be one of the front-runners to capture the state's individual title.

Saddleback teammate Anna Gudmundsson (Leksand, Sweden) gives Cho solid support on the Saddleback squad, averaging 77.7 strokes per round. The duo carded identical even-par 72's on a tough Tijeras Creek golf course (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) last month. Nicole Bloch (San Clemente HS) averages in the low 80's while Christina Austin (Santa Margarita CHS) averages in the upper 80's.

The good news for Cho is that the Orange Empire Conference championship will be held on the El Prado course on November 3 and 5.

The Southern California Regional tournament is scheduled for Monday, November 10, at the El Dorado Park golf course in Long Beach. The state championship is the following Monday at the Twelve Bridges Golf Club in Lincoln, just outside of Sacramento.

www.saddleback.edu/athletics