The Irvine Valley women's golf team was tied for the lead after the first day of the Orange Empire Conference finals on Monday at Los Serranos in Chino Hills.

The team was tied with Santiago Canyon. Irvine Valley had a 14-stroke lead over third-place Santa Ana, a 40-stroke lead over Saddleback and a 145-stroke lead over Fullerton.

"While it is our intention to out-play all competition, our current conference record of 36-4 puts us in the enviable position of winning the conference title by defeating just Saddleback and Fullerton," IVC coach Ben Burnett said of his team just needing third or better to win the title.

IVC was paced by freshman Felicia Titus. Her 5 over par 79 was five strokes better than any other competitor's first day score.

Following the completion of the second round, Titus will be honored by the conference as the player of the year.

IVC freshman Samantha Roberts was in second. She had a lead of seven strokes over her nearest competitor.

"Sophomores Courtney Schroeder and Alex Calvillo are involved in heated competition to maintain their current position as members of the all-conference team," Burnett said.

Burnett also earned some recognition of his own on Monday when the other conference coaches named him the 2008 Orange Empire Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year.

Play resumes at the conference finals on Wednesday at Los Serranos.