Golf team strives for State

Senior Zoee Lynch

Golf team strives for State

Ask any high school coach and they will tell you their ideal team is one with senior leadership and experience, depth and new talent.

That describes this year’s Scripps Ranch High School girls varsity golf team, according to head coach Todd Wilson.

“We have three seniors, a junior, sophomore and talented freshman who make up our top six players on varsity,” he said. “The seniors have played together all four years on varsity. Everyone is really clicking, practicing and playing together. They are having a great time.”

Last year’s team finished in second place in the CIF Division 1 competition, but Wilson is hoping for the ultimate prize this season, a state championship. Individual players can make it to the state championship but, in order for a team to qualify, it must win the CIF Championship.

“This team has the opportunity to be the best one we have ever had at the school,” Wilson said. “To win CIF and then have a chance to play at Poppy Hills (the site of this year’s state championship, located in Pebble Beach) would be awesome.”

Wilson believes in keeping coaching strategies clear and simple in order to coach the team to that level of success.

“Golf is a head game. To play well you must have a very short memory. The more you stress over a shot, it will affect your final score,” he explained. “So many matches are decided by just a shot or two.”

Also important to Wilson are the number of players who, after leaving Scripps Ranch High School, continue to play golf as well as those who are able to compete at the next level. This year’s seniors – Napua Glossner, Zoee Lynch and Kathleen Keomahazonz – are no exception.

“Each of those girls are pursuing college scholarship offers and will have options to choose from,” Wilson said.

Following behind them are junior Ruhee Pandit, sophomore Isabella Ranches and freshman Kiana Glossner, Napua’s younger sister.

“We also have a junior varsity team. So, combined with varsity, there are 14 girls playing golf for the high school – which is fantastic,” Wilson said. “This is a lifetime sport and I would encourage, whether it is the parents or the kids or both, to contact me if they are interested in playing on the golf team. You do not have to be a Tiger Woods to play on a high school golf team.”

Unlike almost any other high school sport, league rules prevent golf fans, family or friends, from watching team matches in person.

“You can watch the players tee off on the first hole, but that is it,” Wilson explained. “It is not like the PGA Tour where you can follow players around on the course.”

Wilson suggests the designated high school sports website as the place to find results, photos and information about the team at
srfalcons.org.