Journey, King’s kingpin player of the afternoon, shot her season-low 61, and her groupmate Georgia Herbon shot a 54, including a critical tie on the 9th hole with her opponent to force a team tie. In the second group, Alyssa Christensen and Addison Ruan continued their consistent season with a 49 and 51, respectively. Battling a wrist injury, Sarani Yapa shot a 40, stabilizing on the back half of the 9 after a slow start. Emilyn Czaplicki led the team for the afternoon with a solid 38 and a sprinkling of birdies and bogeys.

Coach’s Take: What an exciting day for the team! We knew entering the match that Palm Desert is a strong opponent, but the course is the ultimate equalizer, and our girls played with all the confidence and grit that I could ask for. This match is an excellent example of why every stroke for every player is critical, and why we need to keep fighting until the final putt drops. It’s so exciting to go to a sixth-player tiebreaker, and Journey put her best round out there on the day that it really mattered. Our energy and team camaraderie are the strongest I’ve seen so far, which is just what we need to take on our doppelganger, Great Oak, on Wednesday at Temecula Creek Inn.

 

GREAT OAK VS THE WOLVES ON WEDNESDAY

Two Packs of Wolves met in a dogfight at Temecula Creek Inn in Temecula on Wednesday afternoon. Between the difficulty of the course and the stiff winds, both teams took their licks and got some good shots in. Ultimately, the Great Oak Wolfpack emerged victorious, defeating King 232-245.

Alyssa Christensen had a stellar day; not only did she take medalist honors for the match with a 41, she also shot her personal best by 4 strokes, down from a 45 at Hidden Valley last season. Emilyn Czaplicki and Sarani Yapa closely followed their fellow senior with a 42 and 43. Addison Ruan, Journey Reish, and Georgia Herbon rounded up the pack with 55, 64, and 65, respectively.

Coach’s Take: I think today really emphasized the importance of the mental game element of golf. We played a course that is notoriously difficult, and we had to work hard not to defeat ourselves before we even stepped onto the first tee. I think the girls struggled with recovery from technical and mental disappointments, which is critical to a strong game. Golf is never a game of perfection; it’s a game of mis-hits and recoveries, and for the most part, the girls had a tough time with that. The reality is, Great Oak has a deeper team and more familiarity with the course, which especially showed today. But we look forward to returning to TCI in October for Great Oak’s tournament and, hopefully, CIF competition, and facing the course with more confidence next time.

Season record: 3-1

League record: 0-0