Both Orange Empire Conference teams competing in the CCCAA women's golf southern regional championship tournament at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills this week will advance to the CCCAA state championship event this Sunday and Monday, November 13-14, at the Morro Bay golf course.

Irvine Valley (700) placed third and Saddleback (716) placed fourth to qualify their teams to represent the southern part of the state.  Neither team could catch Santa Barbara City College (633) or Cuyamaca College (634) in the race for the regional team title.

Orange Empire Conference MVP Marisa Bhanubandh (pictured) led Irvine Valley with a 36-hole, two-day total of 161 (85-76) on the par 148 Los Serranos Country Club courses.  Teammate Araceli Esquivel (83-79) was a stroke behind at 162.  Saddleback's Mekenzie Purcell and Deanna Pagaduan posted identical 173's (86-87) to help the Gauchos qualify for the state championship event.  Carly Perone and Brooke Yafckli both posted 185's.

Joining both teams will be Fullerton's Gwen Bates who finished 13th overall but sixth out of the individuals not on qualifying teams.  The top four teams and six individuals out of the regional championships earn the opportunity to advance to the state championship. 

CCCAA South Regional results