Girl’s golf wins PALs; how stress helped lead them to victory

The girl’s golf team had their last game in the PAL against Menlo-Atherton on October 20. Despite the loss, they earned enough victories to be PAL Champions. With 14 wins and 1 loss, the women’s golf team earned first place for the second year in a row.

In golf, the performance of the team members individually contributes to the total score. It promotes individual skills with the understanding that the team’s success lies within each member. Junior Summer Kang says, “I really like being able to play a sport where you solely depend on yourself. I like how a lot of the execution is in your mind, but you need your body too.”

“We have worked at playing each match with an understanding of the rules and making good decisions on golf club selection,” says coach Guy Oling. “Also understanding situations, such in the sand trap, near a tree, in rough grass, and knowing the distance to the hole.”

Junior Kathryn Miyahira explains, “Practices are usually at Poplar Golf Course, and that usually entails playing about seven holes. Or if we go to Mariners, we hit at the driving range for an hour or two.”

Junior Jacqueline Soong adds, “The most difficult part is meeting on time for our matches because it’s not very near to the school.”

Coach Oling says, “Not to my total surprise, but to a pleasant surprise we improved and this year’s seniors plus the rest of squad picked up their game. I am quite proud of the girls and these back to back Championships.”

Miyahira explains, “When we play at different courses, it is always helpful to me to ask the girls who have played that course before where the hole is and the distance. It helps to mentally visualize what club you would use and how far you estimate it will go.”

Kang says, “I clear my mind and remember that I need to focus on everything that needs to be intact within my body to hit a good shot.”
Although winning is their goal, the team has no planned strategies but to just stay in focus and enjoy every match. Coach Oling shares, “I believe early on that our golfers were putting themselves under pressure to win. But confidence and skill have made our team feel comfortable in the later part of this season.”

Soong agrees by saying, “There is definitely pressure but golf is more of an individual game than it is a team sport. We all want to win but either way; playing golf is usually all about the fun. It can get frustrating, but it’s even more fun to recover from the frustration.”

Although two of their players, Erin Sullivan and Gina Hazelton, will graduate this year, the team will continue their team work as a family and enjoy every match. Furthermore, with the great turn out of the games this year, the team is setting their expectations higher.

Miyahira concludes, “It’s hard to determine how we will do next year, but for me, it’s more for fun than winning, although being PAL champions again is definitely one of our goals.”