Led by freshman Carla Chavez the Irvine Valley College women's golf team defeated Fullerton on Monday to win its Orange Empire Conference opening match at Western Hills Golf Course in Yorba Linda.

Irvine Valley finished with a team score of 386. Fullerton and Santa Ana, who also played in the match, did not field complete team and thus finished with no team scores.

The Lasers were coming off finishing third at the Orange Empire Conference Tee Off Classic early last week and then placing in the middle of the pack at a tournament in Palm Springs last weekend.

"Preseason results suggest that Golden West College and Saddleback should be in a battle to win the conference," Irivne Valley Coach Ben Burnett said. "Co-captain Debbie Firman is our only returning member from last season’s conference winning squad.

"As the season progresses, we could have four players improving to the point of keeping their scores in the 80s."

Chavez finished with a score of 88 on the par 72 course to lead the way for the Lasers. She was the medalist on the day.

 Firman shot 91, Ailam Troung followed with a score of 101 and Hiroko Hibara shot 106 to round out the scoring for the Lasers.

Erin Dunne also carded a 125 for Irvine Valley.

"This golf course is so difficult that I expect these scores to be the highest scores shot during the season," Burnett said.

On Wednesday, Irvine Valley travels to Mission Lakes in Palm Springs to play a non-conference match with College of the Desert.