The Lady Lions golf team wrapped up its 2006 season on Monday at the Bay Valley Athletic League championships, held at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord, as sophomore Alyssa DiVincent finished tied for 10th in the highly competitive field, and qualified to compete in the North Coast Section championships next week.

"We just about had to put lead boots on her so she didn't jump to the moon when she found out she'd qualified," Liberty head coach Rick Quintana said of his emerging star.

DiVincent was one of five Liberty golfers who will participate in the BVAL championship, along with senior teammates Kaite Krey, Jessica Price and Kelcie Murayama, plus fellow sophomore Chandell Groves.

The Lady Lions finished the season with a 4-10 record, with wins over Antioch and Pittsburg. Liberty finished just 10 or fewer strokes back in three of the 10 losses, giving Quintana and his coaching staff reason to be optimistic about the future of the program.

"The girls are really starting to put things together out on the course, and they're all having fun doing it," said Quintana just prior to tee-off. "Each of the five girls who've made it here (to the BVAL championship) deserve to be here - all of their success is a result of the effort they put into their game."

Quintana credits his players' attitudes on the course, both in practice and in match play, for their rapid development as golfers. Each of the Lady Lions pay close attention to the tutelage provided by Quintana and his three assistant coaches, then go out and put those lessons to use.

"I'd say golf is 60/40 attitude over swing," explains Quintana. "Even if the technique is perfect, you need the right attitude and approach to the game to allow you to execute that technique."

The BVAL championship marked the end of a very successful high school golf career for senior Kaite Krey, who missed qualifying for an invitation to the NCS championships by just six strokes. Krey, who's been the Lady Lions No. 1 golfer all season, expressed her sorrow that she wouldn't be moving on, but had no regrets about the way she played.

The Lady Lions look to return six players from this year's team, including DiVincent and Groves, whom the coaching staff easily selected as the team's most improved golfer this season. The pair of sophomores will be joined on next year's roster by classmates Kasey Reck and April Fherfy, and freshman Sam Miles, all of whom have a tremendous amount of upside.