Since the inception of the Glendale College Women's Golf Program in 2007, the success
has been remarkable. The Vaqueros have made their mark on the state level and have continued to produce the finest male and female student-athletes in the area. The beginning five years ago was a challenge. Finding players to compete for a start up program received a big boost by gaining one of the finest golf courses in California in Oakmont Country Club as a practice and home course. A first class golf facility to call home, along with a proud history of scholastic and athletic achievements has allowed the golf program at Glendale College to grow up in a hurry.
This is evident in the fact that the women's program produced an individual state champion in Tammy Panich in 2010 and runner-up team finishes at the state championships in 2011 and 2012.
In the fall of 2010, the men's program broke through by winning its first tournament of the year by beating nine other colleges and opening the eyes of the community, with two members making All-Western State Conference. Freshman Nick Quintanilla was the team MVP and Brennan Amirhkizi was GCC's most improved player and represented the college very well in the Southern California Regional tournament.
In the spring of 2010, history was made when Glendale native Tammy Panich chose to compete for GCC. The beginning of the season was less than anticipated as Panich endured the removal of her appendix and missed the first conference tournament. The next week, not being 100% and against doctors orders she represented GCC in a eight-team college tournament in Palm Springs and placed
third individually. Panich then hit her stride as she surpassed all expectations by finishing first in Western State Conferernce competition, and won the 36-hole conference title by six strokes and was named Player of the Year in the Western State Conference.
The next step was the 36-hole Southern California Regional tournament where Panich finished tied for second which qualified her to advance to the California State Championship. Finally, after 36
holes at Los Serranos Golf Course North, Tammy Panich became the 2010
California Community College Athletic Association State Champion and an All-American as well. She is the first GCC women's golfer ever to accomplish this feat nd set the bar high for every golfer and team that followed in her footsteps.
After such a successful women's campaign the 2011, the men's team began in
the spring with some lofty goals. They met several of them accomplishments that season which proved how much the golf program has progressed. The GCC golf team was victorious in its
home event at Oakmont CC for the first time ever, which led to a second place team finish in
Western State Conference play, qualifying Glendale to compete in post season
play for the first time as a team. Glendale then finished second in the Southern
California Regionals, which vaulted the Vaqueros into the State Championship as
a team,
The Vaquero golf team finished seventh in the California Community
College Athletic Association State Championship. The team MVP Brennan,
Amihrkizi finished his sophomore year by once again making All-Western State
Conference and making All Southern California Region. One of Brennan's stand
out performances was in our Western State Conference home event at Oakmont
where he shot a 67 to earn low medalist honors. Team Captain, freshman Michael
Timpson also made All-Western State Conference and All Southern California
Region. Michael was medalist in the 36 hole Western State Conference
Championship with a seven under par 65 the first round.
The 2011 and 2012 seasons for the men and women proved to be among the best in school history as the women won consecutive WSC titles thanks to three golfers, Pattraporn Silawanna, Vicki Ma and Thanawan Sriratchaya who were as dominant as they were consistent for Head Coach Greg Osbourne. The Lady Vaqs won the Southern California Regionals in 2011 and placed second in 2012 and finished second in state both years, by just one stroke in 2011. Silawanna won the WSC and Southern California individual titles in 2011-12 and was an All-American both years, Ma was an All-American in 2011 and all three golfers made the Lady Vaqs one of the preeminent programs in the state in five short years.
The 2012 men's team finished second in the WSC team competition and advanced to the Southern California Regionals thanks to the solid play of sophomore Michael Timpson and freshmen Mathias Dahl and Richie Maloof. Dahl and Maloof advanced to play in the state individual finals and transferred to UC San Diego and USC respectively while Timpson will continue his collegiate golf career at Cal State San Bernardino.
All in all, the golf program at Glendale College has grown in leaps in bounds in five short year under Head Coach Greg Osbourne and the foundation has been set for even greater success fior the atudent-athletes he works with in the future.