VILLELA A STAR IN HER OWN RIGHT.

Byline: JILL PAINTER GOLF

Angela Villela went to ``The George Lopez Show'' on Thursday via an invitation from the sitcom's star.

Between takes on the set, Lopez chatted up the audience and asked Villela to stand up. He introduced her as ``the baddest Latina in golf.''

Bad, as in good, of course.

Four days later, Villela -- a San Fernando High junior -- qualified for the state golf tournament. Villela finished fourth at the CIF/ WSCGA state championships, but she's a winner in the community and with her teammates.

She's been an inspiration and motivator to young and old alike. She's made one San Fernando alum particularly proud -- Lopez. And even though he wasn't at the WSCGA regional championships at the SCGA Course in Murrieta on Monday -- where Villela finished tied for fourth -- or at state, he was there in spirit.

Villela proudly displayed a new clubhead cover Lopez gave her -- of a man taking a siesta under a big sombrero -- and she played with a ball he gave her. It's a good thing Lopez -- who's obsessed with golf -- plays with the same Pro V1 Titleist ball as Villela, otherwise the ball would've been displayed prominently on a shelf. The ball had his name on it, and around the name, Villela drew a Mexican flag. She didn't lose the ball, despite several water hazards. She used another Lopez golf ball on Tuesday. Now, they're going into retirement.

``He was really happy that there was a girl representing San Fernando,'' Villela said.

Lopez asked for some tips to help his game, then made an unofficial tee time with her for next year. Villela was excited about that, as well as her studio tour.

``I love watching the show,'' Villela said. ``It was cool to get the tour of the studio. And we got to see the `Gilmore Girls' set, too.''

Villela can be on a big stage like Lopez one day. There aren't a lot of Latina golfers, especially on the LPGA Tour. If Villela continues to play as consistent as she has the last year, she could play on tour someday, too. Her two heroes are Lorena Ochoa (the LPGA player of the year) and Nancy Lopez, who is retired.

Villela doesn't belong to a country club, like some of her peers, but when she's using her driver or putter on the course, none of that matters. There are no barriers. She's been playing with the same clubs since she was 12. Some players get fitted for new clubs every year or two. Villela said she's grown into hers. She's not normally hanging around the junior golf circuit, so her lofty state finish was a surprise to some.

``A lot of girls were looking at me like, where did you come from?'' Villela said. ``I just thought, `You know what? I beat you. The score is up there.'''

Villela was able to play in one American Junior Golf Association tournament last summer (which can be a pricey endeavor with flights, hotels and entry fees) and won it. A couple of people wanted to help sponsor her, but she arranged better equipment for her entire team.

Along with San Fernando coach Sheilah Conway, Villela helped instill confidence in her teammates. Each golfer improved her game by an average of 20 strokes.

``Angela is the first kid that came in and knew how to play golf,'' Conway said. ``I hope it shows them that it can be done. It just takes a lot of hard work.''

The people who work in the golf shop at El Cariso -- where Villela started playing when she was 8 -- know her work ethic, as do her younger sisters, Alyssa, 8, and Adrianna, 5, and her brother, Gus.

While Villela was getting ready to play a round at El Cariso this past summer, Alyssa and Adrianna hit ball after ball straight on the driving range, just like their big sister. Villela said they'll both be better than she is. That's hard to imagine.

``They know when I do bad and when I do good,'' Villela said. ``They know what a good score is. They tell me when I choke.''

Alyssa walked the course with Angela on Monday. She wanted to be her sister's good luck charm on Tuesday, too. She cried in an attempt to go, but she couldn't miss another day of school.

Villela already has interest from some colleges, which was spurred by her appearance in the AJGA event. In recruiting circles, it's all about the junior golf tournaments kids play.

But Villela's game -- and influence -- isn't hard to notice.

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San Fernando's Angela Villela finished fourth at the CIF/WSCGA state championships. George Lopez calls her ``the baddest Latina in golf.''

John McCoy/Staff Photograper

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