Photo

The Gunn and Castilleja girls' golf teams went undefeated during their respective league seasons, dominating their opponents with easy victories. Thus, it wasn't that surprising on Wednesday as both teams won their league tournaments with relative ease.

Gunn shot 412 and won by 20 strokes in the Blossom Valley Athletic League tourney at the par-71 Santa Teresa Golf Course. Castilleja had an even easier time as it shot 430 and won by 34 strokes at the par-71 Poplar Creek Golf Course in San Mateo.

Both teams will advance to the CCS finals on Tuesday at Rancho Canada (East Course) in Carmel Valley. Six at-large teams and 24 individuals qualifying to CCS will be announced later.

With the CCS cutting back on the number of qualifying teams and individuals, Gunn pretty much needed to win the BVAL title. With three players shooting in the 70s, that became a moot point.

"All our players played really good golf," said Gunn coach Chris Redfield. "Anna Zhou got off to a slow start and was 3-over early in her round, but played a steady back nine -- finishing with birdies on 16-17-18 to post a 1-over-par 74."

Gunn's Tiffany Yang shot a 5-over 41 on the front nine, before turning it around on the tougher back nine with a 2-under 35 to finish at 76.

"Tiffany was the only member of our teams who had never played the back nine there, but this didn't slow here down a bit," said Redfield.

Gunn junior Jayshree Sarathy finished with a 78, playing a steady front nine. She was 2-over after 11 but picked up a double-bogey on the 12th -- a downhill, dogleg right par-4.

"That slowed her momentum a bit," Redfield said. "Jayshree said her ball-striking was good, but that she didn't convert several short birdie putts."

Gunn also got a solid 83 from Lianna McFarlane-Connolly, a season best. Sandra Herchen, a former member of the Gunn basketball team and a newcomer to golf, rounded out the Titans' scoring with a 101.

In San Mateo, Castilleja had what amounted to a practice round as the Gators already had clinched a CCS berth by virtue of winning the regular-season round-robin title.

Harker was second with 464 strokes while Sacred Heart Prep (490) and Menlo School (502) rounded out the team scoring. It's unlikely that SHP or Menlo will advance as a team with the tougher qualifying standards this season.

Castilleja had all five players shoot 93 or better with sophomore Chloe Sales leading the way with a 9-over 80. She bounced back from a double-bogey six on the second hole and a 42 on the front nine to shoot 38 on the back. She tied with Menlo freshman Jessie Rong, who may advance as an individual.

Castilleja senior Taylor Wilkerson was a stroke back at 81, thanks to a double-bogey six on both the 13th and 18th holes, with Danielle Mitchell tying for eighth with an 84. Freshman Paris Wilkerson (92) and Nicole Mitchell (93) rounded out the Gators' scoring.

Allison Beers of Pinewood shot 77 and should advance to CCS. She was only 2-over on the back nine. Caroline Broderick of Menlo (86) and Maddy Ellison of SHP (87) are on the bubble.

At the PAL Championships on Tuesday, Menlo-Atherton senior Xin Fang shot 79 at Poplar Creek to qualify for the CCS tournament.

Boys' water polo
Sacred Heart Prep wrapped up the regular-season title in the West Catholic Athletic League and the No. 1 seed for next week's league tournament following a 15-9 dunking of visiting St. Francis on Wednesday night.

The Gators (6-0, 20-4), who finished in a three-way for first place last year, could have fallen into a similar finish had the Lancers (4-2, 9-11) prevailed. SHP made sure that didn't happen by scoring six goals in the opening period -- three by sophomore Will Conner. The transfer from Paly finished with a season-high six goals.

Junior Harrison Enright added four goals, Zach Churukian tallied three and Bret Hinrichs contributed two. Senior goalie Will Runkel had 12 saves, blanking the Lancers in the final quarter.

In the PAL Bay Division, Menlo-Atherton remained atop the standings with an easy 24-3 romp over host Aragon. Harrison Holland-McCowan scored four goals for the Bears (4-0, 11-11), who can wrap up the division crown on Tuesday by beating host Woodside.

That should be no problem. Menlo School did just that Wednesday, 20-4, as Micah Rosales tallied five goals and freshman Chris Xi added four. Alexander Lazar manned the goalie spot in the first half and had 11 saves for the Knights (3-1 (12-10).

In the PAL Ocean Division, Priory played its first and only match on campus and dropped a 15-9 decision to Terra Nova. The Panthers (0-11, 1-13) got four goals from Kyle Walden and trailed by only 8-7 at halftime against the defending division champs before being held to just two goals the final two periods.

Girls' water polo
Sacred Heart Prep's shot at defending its regular-season title in the WCAL missed the mark in a 6-3 loss to visiting St. Francis on Wednesday. The Gators (5-1, 15-5) were outscored in the second half, 5-1, as the Lancers (6-0, 17-3) claimed the title.

In the PAL Bay Division, Menlo-Atherton remained atop the standings with a 14-3 victory over host Aragon. The Bears (4-0, 12-7) can wrap up its sixth straight division title by beating host Castilleja next Wednesday (5 p.m.).

Fiona Jackson led the Bears with four goals while Jenna Swartz added three. Sami Henze had five steals and Sierra Sheeper made seven saves. Nicolle Zanolli had a fine all-around game with two goals, three steals and four assists.

Castilleja, meanwhile, remained in second place following a 13-7 victory over host Sequoia. Sydney Molano led the Gators (3-1, 10-9) with four goals with Stephanie Flamen adding two. Maddie Tarr had 12 goalie saves.

— Palo Alto Online Sports

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.