LIFTING HER TEAMMATES LEADING A NEW GENERATION SAN FERNANDO HIGH'S VILELLA COULD BE NEXT GREAT LATINA GOLFER.

Byline: NATHAN BROWN Staff Writer

Nancy Lopez holds iconic status among Latina golfers, and Lorena Ochoa is a rising star on the LPGA tour, with earnings of $2.3 million and the Samsung World Championship title.

The next generation could be headed by San Fernando High junior Angela Vilella, a rising star in junior golf circles who won the first American Junior Golf Association tournament she played, setting a course scoring record at last summer's Nike Golf Junior at Diablo Grande in Patterson.

Vilella last year transferred from Granada Hills to San Fernando High, which has a large Hispanic student body. She left a City Section powerhouse -- Granada Hills has won the past five section titles -- and joined one that tries just to field a team, one whose coach, Sheilah Conway, provides rides, clubs and encouragement for her golfers in a school that hardly knew the team existed.

Vilella, to some degree, is changing all that.

San Fernando (5-0) has gone from last to first in the the Valley II League and could reach the City Championship tournament for the first time in six years as a program. A Valley II League Tournament victory today could clinch a City berth.

Vilella is leading the charge, constantly shooting in the mid-to-high 30s over nine holes -- and with a 4-under round this season, in a Valley II match at El Cariso Golf Course in Sylmar.

She's more than the Tigers' star, offering encouragement, tips and anything else she can to teammates.

Everyone's score is improving, and girls' golf is gaining attention on campus.

``The P.A. announcements are read in the mornings: `The girls' team won this and that,' and the kids notice,'' Conway said. ``Then I tell them to start thinking about playing golf. That's my pitch.''

Vilella made an instant impact for the Tigers, but it took a little time for San Fernando's golfers to warm to her.

``At first,'' said Maria Esparza, the Tigers' No. 2 golfer, ``we thought she might be a show-off or something. But after knowing her, she's a cool person.

``We take her advice, and she started hanging out with us in the cafeteria. We laugh and make jokes and stuff. It's been cool.''

Said Vilella: ``It's been a real learning experience for me. I'm more patient now. I've come from a team that had everything. But here I really want to help everyone out.''

Vilella is several notches above her teammates on the course, but her demeanor has drawn as much admiration as her skills.

``She's been real gracious with the girls,'' Conway said. ``They were thrilled to see someone play golf like that, that's a young Hispanic girl, also.''

Vilella's work ethic, among the reasons she's a favorite to win the City individual title, has lifted teammates.

``Our seventh golfer (Jennifer Benitez) has really benefited,'' Conway said. ``She's so dedicated now. She really wants to get out there. Even if I'm not holding practice, she'll say, `I'll be there, I need the practice.' The improvement is there. It's nice to be on the winning track.''

North Hollywood coach Steve Miller says Vilella's seriousness gives her an edge.

``When I was coaching (UCLA freshman) Lalita Boonnoppornkul last year, she said that she enjoyed playing golf with Angela because she's so serious,'' Miller said. ``Other girls will be laughing and giggling, and Lalita didn't like that. Angela and her were alike in that way.''

Vilella has great aspirations in golf, and she'll never forget a conversation she had two years ago with Nancy Lopez, on a cell phone comedian George Lopez handed to her before Oscar De La Hoya's Foundation Tournament.

``She said to keep going,'' Vilella said. ``To keep trying, and don't give up.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) San Fernando High junior Angela Vilella, center, has helped the team improve from last place to first place in the Valley II League.

(2) Angela Vilella set a course scoring record at last summer's Nike Golf Junior tournament at Diablo Grande in Patterson.

John McCoy/Staff Photographer