Aragon girls golf third in league
On October 12, 2011, the Girls Varsity Golf team took the Poplar Creek Golf Course to face their top opponents, Burlingame and San Mateo High School. Before the game, Coach Oling said “Play your best. If we win, we’ll be able to contend for first place.”
After many heated rounds on the green, the teams shot near 251 strokes. The total number of strokes is the total score of five players playing on a nine hole course. When competing against Burlingame and San Mateo, only a few strokes of difference determined the winner of the game.
The first place team, San Mateo, has an undefeated 7-0 record. Burlingame is at second with a 5-1 record. The Aragon Golf team now stands at third place with a 4-2-1 record.
Senior Jackie Soong said, “The best shot we ever shot was a 239.”
“The most important shot was most likely our short game.” Soong said. “If every one of us scored a stroke lower, we may have been able to beat Burlingame and San Mateo.”
After the game, Coach Oling said that “we had a great season so far, and coming in third place in the league isn’t too shabby. We, San Mateo, and Burlingame are the top three most competitive teams in the whole league.” He then added, “All three of the schools haven’t been this competitive in a long time.”
As outstanding golf players, each of the team members started off with humble beginnings. To name a few, freshman Valerie Chen and senior Kaitlin Choy both say they “started golf after they gained inspiration from their fathers.” Junior Jessica Mallos said “I started golf after I saw my cousin playing.” These excellent golf players traveled a long path abundant in hard work and practice. From novices to outstanding experts, many players on the team have visited and played on world-renowned courses such as San Francisco’s Olympic Club, which is hosting the U.S. Open next year.
Even as experts, there are some courses that are challenging, yet exciting to play on. “The 18-hole course in San Francisco is pretty hard,” Chen recalled “[it was] the one with the cliffs.”
With regard to Coach Oling, the players laughed as they described him. “He’s cool.” Mallos said. Some of the other players added that he is “forgiving and encouraging.” Freshman Kelly Fang included that he had “a good sense of humor.”
For the finals, Soong said “we definitely have a shot at placing at the top for the PAL’s, however going to CCS as a team is not possible.” Then she added, “As of right now, we are locked into third place, however if we all miraculously place in the top 5 in the PALs, we do have a chance of going to CCS, but we won’t win the league.”
Chen said “the team’s not what I expected to be. Everyone’s much nicer, including the coach. The team…well even though golf isn’t really a team sport, out team is really…like a team. We all support each other.”
Others on the team agreed that their team was not just about individuals. “Our greatest strength is teamwork,” Soong said. The other girls all agree. “Golf is a mental sport. It requires you to use your brain. Emotions really run in the game.”
Teamwork has been a key ingredient for the girls golf team to get this far. United, they have achieved third in the league, and continue to aim higher. The unity and determination of the golf team may let them rise to the top for the PAL’s and beyond.
