TEMECULA — Vista Murrieta’s Fay Jia wrapped up her summer schedule with a top 10 finish at the SCGA Women’s Amateur in Ventura County. She then immediately made a splash early in the high school season with a win in the Rainbow Sandals Classic hosted by San Clemente, shooting a 69 to not only earn medalist honors but set a new program record on a par-73 course. And Thursday, she became the third freshman in a five-year span to win a Southwestern League title, prevailing by 10 shots over teammate Breanna Noble after rounds of 68 and 71 (combined 5 under par) at Redhawk Golf Club. Jia started the day with a seven-stroke lead thanks to an eagle at the par-five 11th hole and a birdie at the final hole in Wednesday’s opening round. “This year’s SCGA Women’s Amateur definitely reshaped my thinking with regards to how I handle pressure,” Jia said. “I’ve embraced the opportunity instead of going into the round nervous and it’s really freed me up as I play in these big events.” Thursday, she had a little bit of everything, making three bogeys and three birdies to go out in even par. One of those birdies was at the 108-yard, uphill par-three fourth hole, where she stuck a short iron to just under a foot and made the putt. She also made a downhill 12-foot putt for birdie at the par-four ninth hole, finishing her opening nine with two birdies in three holes after making back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 5 and 6. Great Oak’s Jessica Li at one point cut Jia’s lead to four shots after making a 15-foot putt for birdie at No. 6, but that was as close as anyone else got to making a serious run at the title. Jia made one last birdie at No. 18, sticking a wedge shot from 80 yards to five feet and draining the putt, becoming one of six Inland freshmen to win a league title over the last two years. “There are so many more opportunities to play competitively coming into high school, so a freshman who plays on the junior tournament scene really isn’t a freshman except in grade level only,” Jia added. Noble made back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh holes to answer a pair of bogeys at three and four as part of a round of 73. On No. 6, Noble stuck a wedge from 60 yards to two feet and tapped in the putt, At No. 7 she went for the green in two from 240 yards out and stuck a fairway metal to 15 feet but two-putted for birdie. Related Articles High School Sports | Exzavior Oliver lifts Grand Terrace football team to victory over San Gorgonio High School Sports | Valley View football team holds off Riverside Poly in Sunbelt League action High School Sports | Brandon Rivers helps Cajon football team run past Citrus Valley High School Sports | IE Varsity’s CIF Southern Section playoff scoreboard for Thursday, Oct. 24 High School Sports | Legend among legends, Centennial football coach Matt Logan on the cusp of surpassing them all Defending champion Maddie Sammon from Murrieta Valley battled a cold putter en route to a final round 80 and two-day total of 157, sharing fifth place with Iri Chen of Vista Murrieta. Joining Jia, Noble, Jessica Li, Sammon and Chen as Southwestern League qualifiers to Monday’s CIF Southern Section Central Region qualifier at Bear Valley Country Club in Victorville are Skylar Earle of Great Oak (78-76-154), Wren Saithong of Vista Murrieta (78-81-159), Alisa Li of Great Oak (86-74-160), Samantha Rodriguez of Vista Murrieta (81-84-165), Kimiko Carpenter of Great Oak (94-86-180) and Bridget Gibney of Temecula Valley (96-86-182).