Golf: Girls show improvement after low scores at tryouts

Head coach: Dave Gragnola

2015-2016 record: 6-8

2015-2016 recap: After finishing 6-8 in the regular season, the team did not make CCS for teams or individuals.

Key Additions: Freshman Sally Kim

Key Matchups: Lynbrook, Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Gunn

Star Players: No. 1 player sophomore Janelle Jin, No. 2 player junior Sarah Lo

Key Losses (graduated athletes): Claire Leung, Ankitha Sarvesh

League: Santa Clara Valley Athletics League, De Anza League

Prognosis: “I think that we will do pretty well, but a lot of the lower teams who did not score as well moved down a league, so there will definitely be harder competition,” sophomore Janelle Jin said.

After scores in the low 40s and lower from the top six players during tryouts, as well as the addition of No. 6 player freshman Sally Kim, the team looks forward to the upcoming season.

“[The low scores] means we improved from last year and that we'll play well and score lower during matches this year,” No. 2 player junior Sarah Lo said. “[We’ll] beat other teams so we can make it to league finals later in the season.”

The team moved up from the El Camino League to the more competitive De Anza League, which features strong teams like Los Altos.

Another challenge the girls will face is playing on different courses. Saratoga Country Club, the team’s home course, is shorter than most other courses they will play at during the season, so they are focused on practicing with their longer clubs during practices.

Over the summer, head coach Dave Gragnola also brought some girls to play at the country club, and during practice, the team sometimes played games like Horseraces, in which players team up in groups of two and compete against each other. The team’s goal is to build team chemistry, which they believe is vital for success.

“Having a supportive team goes a long way in matches,” said senior Cynthia Yang, the No. 3 player. “Words of encouragement or reassurance can really take the stress off of every player.”