RIPON, Calif. – The St. Francis golf team shot a 455 team score and missed advancing to the state championships Monday at the NCGA/CIF Girls Nor Cal Championship held at Spring Creek CC.

“I am really proud of the team for reaching Nor Cals,” said Head Coach Cindy Mah-Lyford. “It is not the ultimate goal but it is still a very elite competition.”

St. Francis finished eighth overall but were just 11 shots off the top-three finish needed to advance to the state championships for the second straight year.

The Troubadours were led by their three seniors. Senior Ileana MacDonald led the team with an 84 to tie for 21st overall.

“Today was an interesting round,” said MacDonald. “The first nine was a little difficult for me but I started to turn things around. The fairways were tight but somehow I kept it in the middle.”

Senior Emily Laskin, who will play golf for the U.S. Naval Academy next year, posted an 86, placing 25th overall.

“It is tough ending the season on a bad note,” said Laskin. “We all wish we had played better, myself included. We had a good season and we enjoyed it. There is nothing more we could ask for.”

Classmate Victoria Vardanega posted a 90 in his final prep round, placing third on the team overall. A four-year member of the team, she had great perspective after her final round.

“I started barely making the 14-player team and now I am at Nor Cals in the No. 2 spot in the lineup,” said Vardanega. “I am proud of myself and the team. We really tried hard.”

May-Lyford, who concluded her fourth season leading the Troubadours, will miss her initial senior class.

“They have meant a lot to me because I started coaching during their freshman year,” said Mah-Lyford. “I have enjoyed watching them grow as players but more importantly as young ladies who are moving onto the next stage of their lives.”

Sophomore Kristi Lee posted a 95, while sophomore Kate Swanson and junior Victoria Ramirez each recorded a round of 100.

“We had three players who have never played postseason,” said Mah-Lyford. “For them to get here and play is great and bodes well for the next two years.”

St. Francis Mountain View, Palo Alto and Amador Valley all advanced to the CIF State Championships.

“The conditions were tough,” said Mah-Lyford. “It was windy and chilly. The course was narrow and it had trouble everywhere. All the scores reflected the conditions. We still did not miss by much. It was a good test. On a tough course, the cream rises to the top and you had to play well to advance. We did not have enough today.”

For the three seniors, it was especially tough to close out their final season.

“It is overwhelming to realize it is your last one but we had a great four years,” said Laskin.  “I had great teammates and learned a lot. I have gown as a person with my teammates.”

NCGA/CIF Girls Nor Cal Championships

Spring Creek CC, Ripon, Par 73

Team results: St. Francis Mountain View 423; Palo Alto 429; Amador Valley 444; Mission San Jose 448; Gunn 449; Dougherty Valley 451; Rocklin 452; St. Francis Sacramento 455; East Union 477; Chico High 541; Pleasant Valley 608.

Individual results: Michele Xie, Palo Alto, 73; Elizabeth Schultz, Acalanes, 74; Brooke Riley, East Union 76; Emilee Hoffman, Vista del Lago, 77; Aman Sangha, San Mateo 77; Kathleen Scavo, Justin-Siena, 79; Sabby Virtusio, Carondelet, 79; Nancy Xu, St. Francis Mountain View; 79; Valerie Wang, St. Francis Mountain View, 79; Jayshree Sarathy, Gunn, 80.; Chloe Corriveau, Santa Catalina, 80.

St. Francis results: T21. Ileana MacDonald, 84; 25. Emily Laskin, 86; T36. Victoria Vardanega, 90; T47. Kristi Lee, 95; T58. Kate Swanson, 100; Victoria Ramirez, 100.