For the first time since 2008, the girls’ golf team finished the season as Mission League champions, compiling a perfect overall and league record of 7-0 and two tournament victories.
The Wolverines entered the midseason tournament undefeated for the second consecutive year, and unlike last year, were able to close out their perfect season this time around. The team earned 21 out of a potential 21 league points, which combine tournament and single-game results.
Beyond the statistics, program head Marge Chamberlain said the team is starting to establish a winning culture.
“It seems like there was a lot of spontaneous eruptions of fun competitions at practices,” Chamberlain said. “I started to capture videos of the girls getting in line, all trying to synchronize a putt. I have some video of Chantalle [Wang ’17], Daisy [Wan ’20] and Carolyn [Hong ’17] all kind of ‘okay, on three: one, two, three’ and they’re all swinging at the same target at the same time. The girls found a way to compete against each other in a supportive way that was truly unique.”
Although the team had success in league play, it suffered a first-round defeat in the CIF playoffs.
Wang said that the team did not play up to its full potential during the playoffs.
“I don’t know if we were tired or it was just the day, but it wasn’t the greatest day for us, and if we all played our best we probably could’ve been top five,” Wang said. “I guess it’s all in the past and we have to keep working at it.”
Despite the team’s underwhelming finish, both Claire Dennis ’18 and Chamberlain said that they are confident in the team’s ability to compete in the long-term.
“I think that we are a very close knit group and we definitely get along well together. We are a very strong team, and we only need to keep that in mind the whole way through to do our best,” Dennis said. “I expect us to grow even more as a team next year, send many players to individuals, and I personally hope to also make it to individuals.”
In addition, the team will benefit from the arrival of new blood and the experience of veteran players.
“The future of the program is incredible if we continue to have strong leadership,” Chamberlain said. “We have some great players coming up out of the eighth grade. I know because I work at the middle school program as well, so coupled with who’s coming back and who’s coming up, the program looks pretty good for a couple of years to come.”
