By Sean Yoo

The girls golf team competed at their second League Finals game on October 24 against Birmingham High School. Their win qualified them to move on to the CIF Championships on November 7 at Balboa Lake Golf Course. 

For the first League Final, however, the team went up against Palisades  Charter High School on October 17 but barely fell short. They made up for it with the Birmingham win, however.

The team has an overall record of 4-3. 

The team showcased exceptional skill and determination on the golf course, allowing them to flourish, especially in tough matches. Although Palisades Charter High School remains a challenge for the Highlanders.

“Our chances to qualify for the SoCal Regionals are extremely high,” junior and captain Annabel Lee said. “We have a strong history of making that far in the competition.”

The team has to come in first or second in the CIF championship to qualify for Regionals.

Their season started off on the right foot coming off a successful season last year, where the girls finished second at the city championship and tenth in the regional finals. This success drove the players to work even harder in order to reach that same level of success, if not better, this season. 

Their season began on September 17, when the team played Palisades at the Rancho Park Golf Course. The team was just five strokes short despite it being a new course against the defending CIF champions. This showed their immense potential for growth. The girls became determined to practice even harder. 

The team continued to build upon their legacy by approaching each practice with relentless focus and dedication to improvement. Hour-and-half practices are held four days a week. The team works tirelessly to improve on all aspects of their game such as putting, driving, and their short game. On top of working at the range, they also practice on the field ending late at 6:40 p.m. 

On top of their competitive nature and advanced skill sets, their team chemistry has been a defining factor in their success. The three captains have formed a close bond after three years of playing together. 

Their close bond creates a supportive environment to easily integrate the freshmen. They hold team bonding events to help newcomers feel at home creating a family-like atmosphere. This team chemistry combined with their work ethics contributes hugely to their overall success. 

“I love being part of this team,” Lee said. “I’ve learned to have better sportsmanship, part of which comes through having an enormous amount of support from my teammates.  I’ve also realized that my score is not the main priority. Instead, I focus on enjoying my time on the field. My skills have increased exponentially. For example, I have a better swing now and much more stamina. Coach Ma and Brady really guide our team to success.”