COC WOMEN'S GOLF: CANYONS WOMEN POISED FOR MORE SUCCESS TEAM SHOULD CHALLENGE AGAIN FOR STATE GOLF TITLE.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

The beat goes on for the College of the Canyons women's golf program, which has followed last year's state championship with a 35-0 start in Western State Conference play this season.

``This team is very driven,'' said coach Gary Peterson, who has taken the program from an 0-10 start in 1999 to second place in state the following year to the title last season, then began again virtually from scratch this season, when only one starter returned.

No matter. His successful formula of recruiting older women has resulted in another veteran team, if not veterans of Canyons golf.

Desiree Banlowe, from Spanish Hills Golf and Country Club, and Diane Barber of Lakeside Golf Club have been the leaders of the team and conference. With three tournaments remaining, they are within three strokes of each other in the WSC season scoring that determines player of the year.

Janet Richards, from Valencia Country Club, and returning player and grandmother Carla Loomis give the Cougars four of the top eight scorers in the conference.

Kim Gonzalez, from El Cariso Golf Club, and traditional college-age player Erica Leary - who played last season for Hart High - round out the top six for Canyons, which is on pace to make a repeat trip to the state tournament with five freshman starters.

``It's so much fun, they're really fun,'' said Peterson, who includes another veteran woman golfer - former Cougar and two-time WSC Player of the Year Susan Latch - on his coaching staff. ``It's a tough group, and they really focus on playing better.

``The thing I like most is that all of (the older starters) have played a lot of Women's Southern California Golf Association tournaments and been in tournaments at their country clubs or in their women's club championships, but they're all very driven to make Erica the very best golfer she can be.

``Here she is, 18 years old with a bunch of more mature women, and they're all having fun. When these women have fun, they have fun - 18 or 58, it's pretty much the same fun.''

But no one is having more fun than Peterson, who is working on his third consecutive state championship, having also directed the Canyons men's team to a state title last spring.

He rates Mt. San Antonio, which beat Canyons out of the state title in 2000, as the Cougars' primary rival for this year's state championship. When those teams hook up, it's a definite contrast in styles, as Mt. SAC has built its strong team around traditional college-age players, including freshman Moah Chang, one of the standout players in the Foothill League last year at Burbank High.

Canyons has faced Mt. SAC twice this season and finished behind the Mounties both times - at the Lady Otter Classic in Monterey and at the WSC Invitational at Lompoc's La Purisima GC, which will host the Nov. 17-18 state tournament.

But Peterson likes the chances of his team when the two schools meet in the state-qualifying Southern California regional Nov. 11-12 at Hacienda Golf Club in La Habra.

``They're a younger team and also very driven, a very talented team,'' he said of the Mounties. ``But our ladies have much more tournament experience. They may have more raw talent than we do, but I think on our best day we can play with them.''

--COC fund-raiser: The Canyons women's golf program will have its inaugural fund-raising tournament Nov. 25 at Valencia CC. Entry fee is $225 for the foursome scramble event, which includes lunch and hole-in-one competitions. Proceeds benefit the COC women's golf program. Information: [phone].