By LEXI LIM
Staff Writer
In the last home match of the regular season, UHS Girls Golf defeated Irvine High School at Strawberry Farms with a score of 200-230. Every junior and senior played on October 13 in honor of the final home match.
Kristin Shea (So.), who shot a 37, said, “It was an easy match for us and this season has been full of great wins, but also losses that our team can learn from for the next year. I’m looking forward to the next season to come and play the sport I have a great passion for.”
Ellen Takada (Sr.) shot an incredible 32, or 4 under par. At the end of the match, the freshmen and sophomores gave the seniors gifts and flowers to celebrate their dominant win.
Later that week, on October 15, the team played its last match of the season against Woodbridge High School at Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course and won by a score of 198-225. The win secured for the team a third-place spot in the Pacific Coast League.
The two highest scores came from Ellen Takada, who shot a 36, and Nodoka Honda (Fr.), who shot a 38. They were the only players that broke 40. Takada struggled with the slow greens on the first couple of holes, but overcame her difficulties and made some birdies. She said, “The match motivated the team for our league finals and we are excited and ready for whatever comes next.”
The team has a joke they call the “Rancho Curse,” since they have been unable to shoot under 200 every year at that course. Despite the terrible course conditions that caused some of the girls to putt poorly, the team was finally able to lift the curse with a score of 198.
Susan Lee (Sr.), captain of the team, said “I am extremely proud of our golf team this year and how strong we finished off the season. I was hoping we could beat Beckman this year, but our team has improved immensely. I am proud of everyone on the team and could not have asked for a better group of girls to golf with.”