LJ g golf: Bella places 3rd in match play

Viking number-one Bella Itkin tees off

in match play Tuesday, Oct. 21, at

Balboa Park Golf Course.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Bella Itkin, the Vikings' number-one golfer all season, took third place in a tight playoff in match play in the City Conference Championship Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23.

LJHS Athletic Director Aaron Quesnell, who is the Vikings' former golf coach and who follows the team's progress closely, arrived almost breathlessly at La Jolla's boys beach playoff at "The Pit", the sand volleyball courts across the street from the Giant Dipper rollercoaster in Belmont Park.

He told this reporter about Bella's progress in match play, which was being contest at that time--approximately 5:00 p.m. Thursday. She and her opponent for third place were playing on the ninth hole, with the score neck-and-neck. Each golfer, in match play, keeps track of their score on each hole, and each hole through the first nine holes is awarded to one golfer or the other, or called a draw.

At that time, the two players were tied. The nod finally went to Itkin.

Bella Itkin (left) of La Jolla holds her

third place trophy from match play

in the City Conference Championship,

alongside Zadie Posternack (center)

of Patrick Henry, who took first, and

Mia Santos (right) of OLP, in

second place. (Courtesy photo)

The reporter asked, "Did Bella (a junior) play this well last year?" "No," Quesnell shook his head.

She has suddenly blossomed, as young athletes do, this season. Her scores since August reflect that increased skill and concentration. Coach Christie Quinn, partially in recognition of that, named Itkin as assistant captain at the beginning of the schedule, with senior teammate Maddie Quach as captain.

In the three days of match play, Bella defeated the number-four seed, and the number-five seed, before her faceoff for third place Thursday. It has been a week of playing fine golf for the young Viking, who is developing before our very eyes.

She began match play Tuesday as the 13th seed after individual play Monday qualified her among the top 16 golfers in the City Conference.