Winning is par for the course

GIRLS GOLF The Lady Brahmas have excelled in both league and tournaments, starting off 8-0.

Sophomore+Esther+Lee+chips+onto+the+green+in+a+match+against+South+Hills.

INGRID CHAN

Sophomore Esther Lee chips onto the green in a match against South Hills.

Justin Prakaiphetkul, Asst. Sports Editor

Starting the season with a 8-0 league record, the Diamond Bar High School girls golf team looks to be headed to its fourth straight Palomares League title.

“We’re stronger than ever, we’re deeper than we’ve ever been in the school’s history,” head coach Tony McCabe said.

In addition to beginning the year with a perfect record, the girls excelled at both the South Bay Classic and the San Clemente Rainbow Sandal Classic Golf Tournament.

The Lady Brahmas once again finished first at the San Clemente Rainbow Sandal Classic Tournament, winning by nearly 20 strokes. Senior Crystal Wang took home the Rainbow Sandal Classic Individual Championship by shooting one under par. Wang also made school history as the first Brahma to ever take home the Big Sandal, an award given to the golfer with the lowest score in the tournament.

“Maybe not all of us may have played awesome, we still did not give up and, we just hoped that everything turned out well,” Wang said.

Wang expressed shock that she won the Big Sandal, as she felt that she did not score high enough to finish first individually.

Sophomore Esther Lee also helped lead the Lady Brahmas to their first place finish in the San Clemente Rainbow Sandal Classic Tournament by placing fourth.

Out of the twenty teams that competed in the South Bay Classic Tournament, DB  finished second behind Troy with a score of 373. At the tournament, Wang shot a five under par 66, one of the lowest rounds in DBHS history, according to McCabe.

Freshman Emma Han also performed well during the tournament, shooting a one-over par 72 in her debut tournament.

According to Wang, freshmen Han, Michelle Chang and Alicia Kuo have performed well during the first half of the season. In a match against Glendora, Chang finished with a score of 37 while Kuo, against Wilson,  earned medalist honors by shooting one under par 35.

“We normally just get one freshman per year, but this year, we have three great freshmen,” Wang said.

As one of the three captains, Wang, along with seniors Susie Pan and Jasmine Zhang, has the responsibilities of reminding the team of the meeting times and the colors to wear for certain matches. Additionally, the captains provide advice to the younger players.

“We’re getting great leadership from our captains on and off the court,” McCabe said.

Wang stated that team practices, along with gaining more experience by playing together as a group, will be key to continuing their winning streak. According to Wang, the team practices for nearly three hours a day.

Throughout the season, Wang has played a huge role in the Lady Brahmas’ success. Along with capturing the two individual tournament championships, Wang also placed as a medalist in three league matches.

Against Glendora, Wang was a medalist with a score of 36 in a 191-224 win. In the Lady Brahmas’ 189-257 win over Wilson in their second league game, Wang earned medalist honors by shooting one under par 35. In their season opener their season, Wang once again earned medalist honors by shooting a 37 in a 199-281 win over Ayala.

“Crystal has been doing amazing,” junior Kailie Vongsaga said via Facebook. “Being on a team definitely means working together and working, so she has been playing well, and I’m super proud of all that she has done.”

With great success so far, the team looks forward to facing tougher competition

“I feel as though if you play against better [teams], it makes you a better [player overall],” Wang said.

Despite the team’s successful start, McCabe stated that the team has to continue improving in order to compete with teams not only in their division, but also in CIF State should they qualify.

“[We] have to keep getting better and keep the momentum, so that’s our goal now,” McCabe said. “We have to keep our foot on the gas.”