NAPA, Calif. – Starting in foggy and wet conditions, the St. Francis golf team persevered to place fourth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I North tournament to advance to the next round of the postseason.

Senior Kate Swanson led the Troubadours with a round of 88. She was one of three seniors in the lineup that will play again next week.

“It was very important to advance,” said Swanson. “I was a little nervous but we pulled it together. It is exciting. We are going to keep going.”

The St. Francis played the early holes in a dense fog that allowed for little visibility, making playing conditions harder than expected especially for the first players.

“The team as a whole battled and nobody had an easy day,” said Swanson, who was an All-Delta League selection.  “It will make us tougher for the next course. It is one we know and are familiar with. This got our skin a little thicker and I think we will play well next time.”

St. Francis shot a 468 to finish among the top four teams and earn a berth in the Section Master’s next Monday at the Reserve in Stockton. Granite Bay won the team title with a 415 team score, followed by Oak Ridge (423) and Rocklin (449).

Senior Kristi Lee posted a 93 to record the second-best score on the day. Sophomore Chase Saca had a 94 that featured a 44 on the opening nine holes.

“I had a few really good holes and few bad holes that definitely added to my score,” said Saca of her back nine.

Saca said the conditions definitely had an effect on the scores on Monday.

“It was very foggy on the first three holes,” said Saca. “You could not even see the ball once it flew it up. Once it started to warm up, the greens got slower because it warmed up and the frost was no longer there. Then it played pretty nice after that.”

Senior Makia Fang posted a 96 and freshman Olivia Alcoran carded a 97. Freshman Patricia Sweeney shot a 103. But SF dropped her score.

“I had a lot of confidence that they were going to move on,” said Head Coach Cindy Mah-Lyford. “I was little concerned after I saw the first few scores come in. The conditions were tough and I am surprised that it was that close. The good news is we have another week to play and the girls are going to do much better.”

“It is great,” said Saca of advancing. “We did not play our best but I am so excited to play the next round.”

Masters will be held on Monday, Nov. 2 at the Reserve at Spanos Park. The top three teams advanced to Nor Cals.

Sac-Joaquin Section Division I North Girls Golf

Team Standings – Granite Bay 415, Oak Ridge 423; Rocklin 449; St. Francis 468; Pleasant Grove 491; Vacaville 514; Davis 527; Wood 588.

St. Francis Scores – Kate Swanson 88; Kristi Lee 93; Chase Saca 94; Mikia Fang 96; Olivia Alcoran 97; Patricia Sweeney 103.