CdM’s youth movement

Joseph Boo

CORONA DEL MAR - With only one player missing from last year’s

squad, Corona del Mar High’s girls golf team has a good chance of

surpassing last year’s eighth-place finish at the CIF Southern Section

finals and third in the Sea View League. But any improvements will come

from how well a young team with no seniors matures.

“We’re young,” CdM coach Mike Starkweather said. “But I think with three

out of four girls back we should be competitive.”

The key returnee is junior Allison Schauppner, who had the lowest scoring

average on the team last year. Schauppner benefits from a father who is a

PGA teaching pro, and she is mechanically sound. “She’s got a great golf

swing,” Starkweather said, “and she’s a really strong performer.”

Behind Schauppner is junior Taylor McCormick and sophomore Kristin McCoy.

McCormick, who plays four sports at CdM, has shown a lot of improvement

over the summer, according to Starkweather. She has worked diligently on

her golf game over the summer. McCoy returns after a year with the

varsity and will be counted on to contribute again this year.

The fight for the fourth spot will be between freshmen Jackie McCoy and

Jennifer Woo, junior Mijanou Pham and sophomore Stephanie Kendrick.

Though all of them have an equal shot, it is McCoy’s talent that makes

her a key figure in the team’s future. “I think Jackie’s very talented as

a ninth-grader,” Starkweather said. “I think she can fill her sister’s

role.”

Her sister is Stephanie McCoy, the Sea Kings’ only graduation loss. She

was the team’s leader last year, and Starkweather is looking for someone

to step up immediately into that role. With no seniors on the team this

year, the Sea Kings are expected to grow into a contender, and they could

push for the Pacific Coast League title.

“I think we’re going to be competitive,” Starkweather reiterated. “I

think we’re ready to go beyond eighth place.”

Roster

Allison Schauppner Jr.

Taylor McCormick jr.

Kristin McCoy So.

Jackie McCoy Fr.

Jennifer Woo Fr.

Mijanou Pham Jr.

Stephanie Kendrick So.

Coach: Mike Starkweather