GIRLS' GOLF: VILLELA ENDS SURPRISING SEASON BY PLACING FOURTH AT STATE.

Byline: CHARLES KALOUSTIAN Special to the Daily News

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Angela Villela of San Fernando High looked at the CIF/WSCGA state championships on Tuesday as just another round of golf.

Among the 48 golfers competing for the state title at Red Hill Country Club, Villela didn't expect to make it this far.

``Honestly, I didn't think I would be here or even qualify for the finals. I'm happy and I played the best that I could,'' said Villela, who posted a score of 3-over 76 to finish fourth. ``I felt great going into the day. I came out here just to play and have fun. I didn't want to come out here with the attitude to shoot 5 under. Whatever happens, happens.''

Lizette Salas of Azusa won the title with an even-par 73, while Mina Harigae of Stevenson of Pebble Beach was second with a 74 and Carlsbad's Rachel Morris was third with a 75.

It was evident that the course was playing longer than the courses she was used to during league matches, forcing Villela to adjust every shot.

``I was going for the center of the fairways and hitting a lot of fairway woods onto the greens,'' said Villela, who shot 1 over on the front nine and 2over on the back. ``But my plan was to try to go for the center of the greens, but not going for the pin. I didn't want to get too picky and end up (with long putts).''

With surgeon-like precision, Villela managed to split the fairways at every opportunity possible, bogeying only three holes, going on a par streak from holes 5 to 12 and logging her only birdie late in the round on No. 17.

``Some of the shorter holes I tried to take advantage of. On 17 I had my pitching wedge in control, and that's where I felt most comfortable,'' she said. ``Unfortunately, a lot of my putts weren't going in, they were just rolling right along the edge.''

Three years ago, the CIF-Southern Section reinstated the state championships, and since then only Grace Woo of Burbank had advanced to the state finals from an area team, finishing as the state runner-up in 2004.

Villela, a junior, qualified for the state championship by blazing her own path, as she helped turn around SanFernando's program after transferring from Granada Hills. She led SanFernando to the Valley II league title this season.

``It was definitely worth the wait to be here,'' she said. ``This year I had the drive to want to do well. I missed (playing in the postseason) my sophomore year (after leaving Granada Hills) and it was kind of hard for me because I wanted to play in this match last year. Not being able to play really disappointed me.''

Next year, Villela will be a senior with championship experience under her belt.

``With my mentality I think I'll do better when there's no pressure,'' said Villela. ``I'll just go out there and play like the way I know how. Knowing that I made it once before, I'll know I can do it again.''

[e-mail]

[phone]