12/10/2010 Rivera repeats as conference MVP
Irvine Valley College sophomore Nicole Rivera was able to duplicate the individual conference accolades she picked up as a freshman and was named as the Orange Empire Conference’s Player of the Year for 2010.
Rivera trailed Saddleback’s Grace Komoroczy on the leader board for the entire season until the two-day, 36-hole conference championship.
Rivera shot rounds of 79 and 75 during the conference championship while Komoroczy, who had been sick the week prior to and during the championship, posted rounds of 83 and 78 to finish second in average scoring.
Rivera ended up with a 77.2 average while Komoroczy posted a 78.0 average.
Irvine Valley’s Chelsea Kasprowicz and Kaycee Fuller also earned first-team all-conference recognition.
Kasprowicz shot rounds of 78 and 75 at the conference championship to finish with a season average of 79.9 strokes per round. Fuller had two of her best rounds of the season with a 79 and 77 to end the year with an 81.1 average.
Irvine Valley’s Taylor Moore (83.2) and Foya Lazare (83.9) made the second team all-conference list.
Moore carded an 85 and an 81 while Lazare posted scores of 76 and 82.
Rivera, Kasprowicz, Fuller, Moore and Lazare led IVC to conference and state titles. The state title was IVC's first ever in golf.
11/24/2010 A promise made - a promise kept
The Irvine Valley women's golf team recently won the program's first ever state title.
But the drive to win state started in the the pre-season.
At the Desert Classic Invitational, the team presented Irvine Valley Coach Ben Burnett with a cake and card to celebrate his 71st birthday.
The card had a hand written message from the players that told him that the team gift would arrive later.
They promised to deliver to Burnett a state championship.
A promise was made.
In Chino Hills earlier this month, the promise was kept.
After the first day of the state tournament, in which IVC did not play up to expectations, the Lasers were in third place out of four teams.
The Lasers were five strokes behind Canyons and two strokes behind defending state champion Sacramento City.
"But at breakfast, before the second round, there was no panic," Burnett said. "The players were confident that they had a game plan for each hole and would play more efficiently than they did on the first day."
Burnett reminded them that they were not lucky to be competing for a state championship.
"They were a good team and earned the right to be there," he said.
IVC was the Southern California Regional champion.
"I believed in them," Burnett said. "They believed in themselves and in each other."
On the second day, Irvine Valley improved by 20 strokes and won the state title by four.
So. Cal. player of the year Nicole Rivera had five birdies, seven pars, four bogeys and two double bogeys to score a 3 over par round of 77.
It was the final team competition score card and it was better than that of Canyons' top player's card and Sacramento City's top player's card.
Rivera completed an outstanding two years at IVC with back to back all-state honors.
Freshman Foya Lazare combined three birdies, eight pars, seven bogeys for a 4 over par 78.
Freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz had three birdies, 11 pars, three double bogeys and a triple bogey for a 6 over par score of 80.
Freshman Kaycee Fuller had one birdie, 12 pars, four bogeys and a triple bogey for a 6 over par score of 80 for the Lasers.
And freshman Taylor Moore finished with two birdies, eight pars, seven bogeys and one double bogey for a 7 over par score of 81.
Moore played the final nine holes with two birdies and 1 over par. She had IVC's second best score - an 83 - on the first day.
She and freshman Ashley Penner were the two throwout scores for the final day.
It was a total team victory, as Lazare and Fuller closed the final nine holes at 1 over par, Kasprowicz closed with 3 over par. Rivera closed the back nine at even par.
And next year's team loses only Rivera, making the Lasers already a favorite to defend their crown in 2011.
11/16/2010 IVC women's golf team wins state title
The Irvine Valley women's golf team made its first trip to the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships one to remember.
The Lasers rallied from five shots back after the first day on Monday to beat College of the Canyons by four strokes on Tuesday for the title.
Individuals had played in the state event previously for IVC, but the Lasers had never gone as a team.
Kayla Riede of Sacramento City posted a round of even-par 74 on the second day for a 36-hole, two-day total of 2-over par on the Los Serranos Country Club north course in Chino Hills. However, her individual efforts could not help the Panthers repeat as state champions in the team competition.
It was Irvine Valley that captured the team title with a two-day total of 650 (335-315). 
Head coach Ben Burnett’s Lasers saw five of their six players improve their second day scores, including freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz (89-80), who was nine strokes better on the second day. Freshmen Foya Lazare (86-78) and Kaycee Fuller (88-80) were eight strokes better on the second day.
The Lasers, who had already won Orange Empire Conference and Southern California Regional titles, were nine strokes better on the second day than Canyons.
Canyons placed second with a team total of 654 (330-324) while Sacramento City placed third at 661 (333-328) and Modesto finished fourth at 720 (363-357).
Tammy Panich of Glendale was one of four players to shoot even par on the second day, forcing a card-off with Riede for individual honors as both golfers posted scores of 150. Panich won the card-off with a 36 on the back nine while Riede posted a back nine score of 38. It was the second consecutive year that Riede has finished as the state’s individual runner-up.
Tina Yang of Mt. San Jacinto shot even par on Tuesday for a two-day total of 152 to finish third overall while Krista Fenniak of College of the Desert also shot even par Tuesday for a 155 total and a fourth place finish individually.
IVC sophomore Nicole Rivera, who was the Orange Empire Conference and Southern California player of the year, finished with a solid two-day total of 155 for fifth. Arica Rodriguez of Mt. San Antonio (156) rounded out the top six individuals to earn all-state honors.
11/15/2010 Lasers in the hunt after day one of state event
The Irvine Valley women's golf team has a little work to do if it wants to win the state title.
The Lasers are five strokes off the lead after the first round of the California Community College Athletic Association Women's Golf State Championships at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills.
College of the Canyons took a narrow lead in the race for the team title. Canyons shot a first-day team total of 330. Sacramento City was three strokes back at 333 and Irvine Valley was within striking distance at 335.
Modesto fell off the pace with a team total of 363.
Irvine Valley was paced by sophomore Nicole Rivera, who fired a 78 and is well within striking distance of the individual leaders.
Freshman Taylor Moore added an 83 with freshman Foya Lazare coming in at 86 and freshman Kaycee Fuller posting an 88.
Tammy Panich of Glendale and Sacramento City' Kayla Riede each shot a 2-over par 76 to share the lead for individuals.
Riede was the individual runner-up last year and led the Panthers to the state team title.
The state golf championships will conclude on Tuesday afternoon at Los Serranos. The players start teeing off at 10 a.m.
11/14/2010 Women's State Golf Championships preview
The best community college women golfers in the state will gather at the Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills starting on Monday for the 2010 California Community College Athletic Association Women’s Golf State Championships.
Last year’s individual runner-up, Kayla Riede of Sacramento City College, will try to lead her team to a second consecutive state title. Riede, a product of Dixon High near the UC Davis campus, shot a 36-hole total of 155 last year as the Panthers claimed the team title over Bakersfield, Palomar, and Canada colleges.
This year’s favorite to unseat the Panthers appears to be Irvine Valley, which is led by sophomore Nicole Rivera. Rivera, a product of Cypress High, finished third individually at the state tournament last year with a 36-hole total of 158. She is more familiar with the Los Serranos course and should have the individual edge this season while her Laser teammates have been 
playing extremely well recently and have their sights set on winning the college’s first state title in women’s golf. Rivera is flanked by a strong group of IVC freshmen players, including Chelsea Kasprowicz, Kaycee Fuller, Foya Lazare, Taylor Moore and Ashley Penner.
Riede captured the individual title last week at the Northern California regional played at the Fig Garden course in Fresno. She shot back-to-back 1-under par rounds of 71 to finish with a 2-under par total of 142. Teammate Elisse Van Deusen finished second overall at 153 while Jennifer Pendergast of Butte College finished third at 158.
The other team representing the north region is Modesto, which is led by Emily Szabo who finished fourth overall at the regional last week with a 36-hole total of 166.
Meanwhile, Rivera was busy capturing the individual title at the Southern California regional played at the Alisal Guest Ranch in Santa Ynez by shooting a 1-over par 145. One of her rounds was a 3-under par 69 as she led the Lasers to the regional team title. Malea Miller of Bakersfield, Tina Yang of Mt. San Jacinto, and Tammy Panich of Glendale each carded 7-over par totals of 151 at the regional event.
College of the Canyons will join Irvine Valley as the second representative from Southern California at the state championships.
The state championship will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov.15, on the north course at Los Serranos (par 74) and will continue on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. with a second round on the same north course. Spectators are allowed on the course.
Eight participants from the 2009 state championship return again this year in the field of 39 players. Rivera is the only individual from the Southern California region to be returning for a second year at the state championship.
College of the Canyons has won two previous state titles (2001 and 2007) and Sacramento City College has last year’s title to its credit. Neither Irvine Valley nor Modesto has won a state title in women’s golf, although Modesto has played in the state tournament twice previously. This is Irvine Valley’s first appearance in the women’s golf state championships.
11/9/2010 Lasers claim first ever So. Cal. Regional title
The Irvine Valley women's golf team rolled through the competition during the regular season to win the Orange Empire Conference title.
And the Lasers continued their dominating play this week at the Southern California regional tournament at the River Course at Alisal in Solvang.
Irvine Valley breezed to its first ever regional title and qualified for the state tournament next week at Los Serranos in Chino Hills.
It is the first time that IVC will be going as a team to the state event.
Only individuals had gone previously.
"We accomplished one of our goals, which was to establish ourselves as one of the best programs in Southern California," IVC Coach Ben Burnett said.
Sophomore Nicole Rivera followed her 3 under par round on Sunday with a 76 on Monday to lead Irvine Valley (632) to the championship and also claim individual medalist honors with a total of 145. Rivera, the two-time OEC player of the year, was first among individuals by six strokes to be named So. Cal. player of the year.
"I was happy for Nicole," Burnett said. "She has been such a good player for us for two years. She deserves this honor."
Also helping IVC to the 21-stroke team win in the six-team field were freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz (82 and 78) with a 160, freshman Foya Lazare (79 and 84) with a 163, freshman Kaycee Fuller (80 and 84) with a 164 and freshman Taylor Moore (89 and 87) with a 176.
"It was a windy day and it made the golf difficult, but I was very pleased with how tough the girls played," Burnett said.
College of the Canyons (653) advanced along with IVC to the CCCAA Women's Golf State Championships on Nov. 15-16 at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills.
11/4/2010 Golf team dominates conference finals
The Irvine Valley women's golf team had already wrapped up the Orange Empire Conference title.
But that didn't stop the Lasers from dominating the conference finals this week.
Irvine Valley finished with a two-day total of 620. The Lasers shot 312 on Monday and came in with a 308 on Wednesday to win the tournament at El Prado in Chino.
Saddleback was second with a score of 323 on Wednesday and a combined 653. Santa Ana placed third at 733 and Fullerton didn't record a score in the four-team field.
Two IVC players tied for medalist honors on the final day of the tourney. Sophomore Nicole
Rivera and freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz each shot a score of 75 on Wednesday.
Rivera defended her Orange Empire Conference player of the year trophy. She finished conference play with a stroke average of 77.2.
Kasprowicz placed third overall individually at 79.9.
Three players in all from IVC shot in the 70's on Wednesday. In addition to Rivera and Kasprowicz, freshman Kaycee Fuller carded a 77.
Also, freshman Taylor Moore shot 81 and freshman Foya Lazare had a 82 for the Lasers.
Five players from IVC ended up being named to the all-conference team.
In addition to Rivera, Kasprowicz and Fuller were named to the first team and Moore and Lazare made all-conference second team.
IVC starts play in the Southern California regional tournament next week.
11/1/2010 Lasers off to great start at OEC finals
Freshman Foya Lazare 's medalist score of 3 over par was one of four Irvine Valley women's golf team scores in the 70's on day one of the Orange Empire Conference Finals at El Prado in Chino.
The Lasers ran away from the field on the opening day of competition.
Their team score of 312 gave them an 18-stroke lead over rival Saddleback (330).
Santa Ana was in third with a score of 356. Fullerton competed only for individual scores.
Lazare had a near perfect round of one birdie, 13 pars and four bogeys on the par 73 Chino Creek Course.
Freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz added a 5 over par score of 78 despite playing with a sprained toe. Kasprowicz had two birdies, nine pars and seven bogeys.
Sophomore Nicole Rivera and freshman Kaycee Fuller tossed in scores of 6 over par 79s.
Rivera had three birdies, eight pars, six bogeys and a triple bogey. She increased her seasonal total scoring lead in the conference individual standings to six strokes over Saddleback's Grace Komoroczy. Rivera is trying to repeat as the conference player of the year.
Fuller's score included 1 birdie, 10 pars and seven bogeys.
Taylor Moore and Ashley Penner had throwout scores for day one.
Moore had nine pars, seven bogeys, one double bogey and one triple bogey for a score of 85.
Penner had seven pars, six bogeys, three double bogeys, and two triple bogeys for a score of 91
The final round resumes Wednesday at 9 a.m. on the Chino Creek Course at El Prado.
10/27/2010 Golf team finishes off Saddleback, wins title
The Irvine Valley women's golf team took care of business on Wednesday.
The Lasers wrapped up the Orange Empire Conference title by beating Saddleback at Arroyo Trabuco in the final match of the regular season.
By winning Wednesday, the results of next week's conference finals won't matter in the final team standings.
IVC finished with a score of 323. Saddleback was next in the four-team match at 340.
Santa Ana and Fullerton didn't post team scores.
Irvine Valley improved its record to an impressive 27-3 overall.
The Lasers were led by freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz, who shot 79.
Defending conference player of the year Nicole Rivera was next. The sophomore shot 81.
Freshman Ashley Penner also came in at 81 for the Lasers.
Freshman Taylor Moore ended at 82 and freshman Foya Lazare carded 85 to round out IVC's players.
"Every single girl contributed again today," IVC Coach Ben Burnett said. "It has been a trend all year. Every player has been a part of a winning score for us at least two times this season."
Irvine Valley plays again next Monday and Wednesday at the OEC finals El Prado in Chino.
Rivera, who holds a two-shot lead in the individual standings, will try and regain her player of the year honors.
"We accomplished one goal which was to win the conference title," Burnett said. "Another one is to get as many players to finish in the top eight at conference finals so they can be named all-conference. Our goal is to try and get three out of the top four spots."
10/20/2010
Women's golf team takes down Saddleback
The Irvine Valley women's golf team defended its home course on Wednesday, beating rival Saddleback to take firm control of first place in the Orange Empire Conference.
The Lasers extended their first-place lead in the standings to three matches over the Gauchos after scoring a team total of 319 at Oak Creek.
Saddleback finished at 327.
Freshman Taylor Moore earned co-medalist honors with a 79 to pace IVC. Moore had one birdie, nine pars, seven bogeys and one double bogey.
"I was happy to see another one of our players finish as a medalist," IVC Coach Ben Burnett said.
Moore was followed by three teammates all at 80. They were sophomore Nicole Rivera, freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz and freshman Kaycee Fuller. Laser Freshman Foya Lazare also played well, coming in at 81. IVC improved its record to 24-3. Saddleback sits at 21-6.
The Lasers play at Arroyo Trabuco - Saddleback's home course - next Wednesday. It is the final match of the regular season.
"The hilly terrain makes it a tough course for anyone to post a low score," Burnett said. "Another victory over Saddleback, at their home course, is a challenge that the IVC girls are
convinced they can achieve."
A victory and Irvine Valley would wrap up the conference title without even having to worry about the results of the OEC Championships.
"Saddleback wouldn't be able to catch us," Burnett said. "I told the girls that we beat Saddleback on their home course before so let's do it again."
10/18/2010
Lasers move closer to conference title
The Irvine Valley women's golf team moved closer to an Orange Empire Conference title with a one-stroke win over Saddleback at the San Clemente Golf Course on Monday.
IVC sophomore and reigning conference player of the year Nicole Rivera shot a 2 over par 75 to earn medalist honors and lead IVC.
Irvine Valley improved its record in conference to 21-3 and Saddleback slipped to 19-5 with two matches left before the conference championships.
The Lasers host a conference match at Oak Creek on Wednesday.
10/13/2010 Women's golf team loses on tiebreaker
The Irvine Valley women's golf team lost a heartbreaker on Wednesday afternoon at Riverview in Santa Ana.
The Lasers fell to Saddleback in an Orange Empire Conference match on a tiebreaker based on the team's back nine hole score.
"We let one get away," IVC Coach Ben Burnett said. "We four double bogeys and a triple bogey on the back nine that cost us. One stroke better and we win."
Sophomore Nicole Rivera led Irvine Valley with a 5 over par score of 75. Freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz shot 78 for IVC.
The loss allowed Saddleback to move close to the Lasers for first place in the conference standings. IVC's record slipped to 18-3 overall. Saddleback moved to 17-4.
Irvine Valley plays again on Monday in a conference match in San Clemente. The Lasers host a conference contest next Wednesday at Oak Creek.
10/7/2010 Wet scorecard does Lasers in
A wet scorecard was a big reason why the Irvine Valley women's golf team dropped a match to Saddleback on Wednesday afternoon at El Prado in Chino.
It was ruled, after much deliberation, that Saddleback defeated Irvine Valley by three strokes.
The questioning came down to whether Irvine Valley's third player had shot an attested 85 or the 88 that was recorded on the scoring sheet.
First, it was ruled that the player shot 88. But after looking closer at the scorecard, the IVC player was given a 85, which meant that Irvine Valley would have tied Saddleback overall. The back nine total system would have been used to break the tie and IVC would have won the match.
Then the scorecard was reviewed a third time.
According to IVC Coach Ben Burnett, it was noted that hole No. 16 had two numbers written in the scorecard box.
"Due to the wet condition of the card, one number could not be decerned," Burnett said. "The other number in the box could be seen as a 4."
The rules committee on hand was informed by both the marker and verified by the competitor that she scored a 3 on hole number 16 and 85 was the correct total, according to Burnett.
"But they felt that the rules of golf did not allow for the alteration of the score card to clarify the score on hole 16 because the score card had been returned to the scoring committee, signed and attested," Burnett said.
Burnett later appealed the decision, but the appeal was turned down on Thursday morning.
"It is just something we have to deal with and learn from," Burnett said.
IVC, whose record fell to 16-2 in conference, plays again next Wednesday at Riverview in Santa Ana.
Irvine Valley has a two match lead over Saddleback in the standings.
The Lasers have four conference matches left before the OEC Championships on Nov. 1 & 3.
10/5/2010 Women's golf team beats Saddleback
Playing in cold temperatures and misting rain, the Irvine Valley women's golf team, led by freshman Kaycee Fuller's 4 over par 77 and sophomore Niclole Rivera's 78, defeated rival Saddleback by eight strokes in Monday's Orange Empire Conference match played on the Chino Creek-El Prado Golf Course.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 14-1 and has a three match lead over Saddleback in conference standings.
IVC plays at Chino Creek-El Prado again on Wednesday.
9/29/10
Women's golf team wins again
The Irvine Valley women's golf team picked up three more wins in an Orange Empire Conference match played in 107 degree weather Wednesday afternoon at Oak Creek.
The Lasers finished with a team score of 319 to beat Saddleback (326), Santa Ana (374) and Fullerton (no team score).
IVC improved its record to 11-1 in conference. The Lasers have a two match lead over Saddleback, which is 9-3.
Irvine Valley sophomore Nicole Rivera paced the team. Rivera, who was the conference player of the year last season, finished with a score of 76.
She was even par after 15 holes then played the final three holes, bogey, triple bogey, bogey to post the 5 over par 76.
Freshman lefty Chelsea Kasprowicz was next at 76, freshman Kaycee Fuller carded 82 and freshman Taylor Moore came in at 83 for IVC.
"The team reached their goal of shooting under 320," IVC Coach Ben Burnett said. "But the gals also feel that they can continue to improve."
9/15/10 Lasers knock off Saddleback with late charge
The Irvine Valley women's golf team pulled out an unlikely victory over host Saddleback last Wednesday at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Course to extend its conference leading record to 6-0.
After IVC, Saddleback, Fullerton and Santa Ana had posted the scores of their No. 1 players, IVC trailed Saddleback by 12 strokes.
Then Irvine Valley began to chip away at that lead.
Freshman Foya Lazare picked up two strokes, freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz picked up four more strokes and freshman Taylor Moore gained five strokes for the Lasers.
IVC was still one stroke down when Kaycee Fuller posted a score of 79 to give the Lasers a winning score of 329. Saddleback finished at 335.
Irvine Valley also earned wins over Fullerton, which carded 365 and Santa Ana, which came in at 390.
"This was a true team victory," IVC Coach Ben Burnett said.
"When your top player (Nicole Rivera) has an uncharacteristic throwout score and the rest of the team hangs together and keeps grinding, it continues to develop the team chemistry and mental toughness that will be needed in post season play."
Fuller parred the first 10 holes on her way to the score of 79, Kasprowicz had eight pars and two birdies as part of her score of 80. Moore finished with one birdie and seven pars for her 84 and Lazare had one birdie and five pars to finish at 86.
9/2/2010 Women's golf team takes second in tourney
The Irvine Valley women's golf team came away from its first outing of the season feeling pretty good about its chances for the season.
The Lasers finished second, only behind Saddleback, at the two-day South Coast Classic in Santa Barbara. The tournament was played Sunday and Monday with the first day at Buena Ventura and the second day at Olivas Links.
"It was a good finish and a great start to the year," IVC Coach Ben Burnett said. "They know this is just the beginning and that we have to keep improving. But this is something to definitely build on."
Irvine Valley was led by sophomore Nicole Rivera, who tied for medalist honors with a two-day score of 147.
Rivera is the defending Orange Empire Conference player of the year.
She shot 73 on the first day at Beuna Ventura and followed that up with a 74 at Olivas Links.
Five new IVC players followed Rivera.
Freshman Foya Lazare shot 166 (83/83), freshman Kaycee Biszantz-Fuller came in at 174 (90/84), freshman Taylor Moore finished at 175 (89/86), freshman Chelsea Kasprowicz carded 176 (84/92) and Ashley Penner finished at 187 (92/95).
IVC doesn't play again until Sept. 10-11 at the Desert Invitational, which will be held at Indian Canyons.
11/10/2009 Two IVC golfers qualify for state finals
Two Irvine Valley women's golfers qualified for the State Championships at Kings Canyon Golf Course in Hanford.
Sophomore Sam Roberts tied for second and freshman Nicole Rivera tied for eighth at the two-day Southern California Regionals at the North Course at Los Serranos Country Club in Chino Hills the first week of November.
Roberts finished with a two-day score of 157 to tie for second.
Roberts, who has been the runner-up for player of the year in the Orange Empire Conference the past two seasons, was very consistent in regional play. She shot 79 in her first round and then finished with a 78 on the final day.
Rivera finished tied for eighth at 163. Rivera shot 79 the first day and then 84 in her next round.
Rivera trounced her fellow competitors with her 2 under par score of 71 at El Prado's Chino Creek Course to earn medalist honors at the Orange Empire Conference Finals in late October.
No one finished within six strokes of Rivera on the day. Rivera, who led the conference individual scoring average all season, was named the OEC Player of the Year.
Roberts finished as the No. 2 golfer in conference for the second year in a row. She finished strong with a 1 over par back nine to post a final score of 82.
And IVC freshman Tiffany Kane finished eighth in conference scoring to earn a spot on the all-conference team.
Her score of 85 consisted of two birdies, six pars, seven bogeys and three double bogeys.