Girls golf: Sea Kings searching for depth

Richard Dunn

CORONA DEL MAR - In the old days, depth was never an issue for

Corona del Mar High’s girls golf team.

But with the new CIF Southern Section scoring rule of counting five

and playing six (instead of three and four), fourth-year Sea Kings Coach

Mike Starkweather believes the biggest challenge will be filling the

fourth and fifth spots on the team’s scorecard.

“You could have a team in contention, but then you have fourth and

fifth players shooting 46, 47 and 48 (over nine holes),” Starkweather

said. “Those fourth and fifth players this year are going to make a huge

difference, and whoever has a fourth and fifth player is going to be

successful in CIF (Southern Section postseason).”

Last year, Corona del Mar finished second in the Pacific Coast League

behind powerhouse University, which captured its second straight CIF/SCGA

team championship.

Uni’s top player, Angela Won, who earned medalist honors in last

year’s CIF finals at Montecito Country Club in Santa Barbara, returns for

the Trojans, who are expected to be strong again.

“There’s just a spattering of good golfers in Southern California,”

Starkweather said. “Teams have one good player, maybe two, but who’s

going to have three, four, or five? It’s going to make a difference in

CIF. It’s going to be interesting.”

CdM, which starts league play next week, could be among the best small

schools in CIF, but in girls golf there’s only one championship for the

entire section, which encompassed 515 member schools in 2000-01.

Two years ago, the Sea Kings placed second in CIF, and last year they

were sixth. “And who knows what’s going to happen this year?” said

Starkweather, who returns only one player from last season, junior Jackie

McCoy, who was sixth individually at the PCL finals.

“We lost four seniors from last year, so we’re rebuilding to a

degree,” added Starkweather, whose program benefits from the help of golf

professionals at Newport Beach Country Club, the team’s home course, as

well as Pelican Hill Golf Club teaching pro Glenn Deck and golf

psychologist Dr. David Wright. “We’re very fortunate.”

Along with McCoy, Corona del Mar will feature a solid core of players

from last year’s junior varsity, including seniors Stephanie Kendrick and

Gloria Hanson and junior Jennifer Woo. Katie Albright has cracked the

varsity lineup as a freshman and is expected to be a consistent scorer.

“She has the potential to be very good. She’s got the mental side of

it, not to mention the skills,” Starkweather said of Albright, the

daughter of 2001 Tea Cup Classic champion Debbie Albright (Newport Beach

Country Club).

Seniors Victoria Quinlin and Casey Bunney, as well as freshmen

Michelle Allbrecht, Kristy Bibb and Caitlin MacDonald, are vying for

spots in the top six.

“We have a lot of very good freshmen,” Starkweather said of his four

newcomers.

Corona del Mar roster

Jackie McCoy, Jr.

Stephanie Kendrick, Sr.

Jennifer Woo, Jr.

Gloria Hanson, Sr.

Katie Albright, Fr.

Victoria Quinlin, Sr.

Casey Bunney, Sr.

Michelle Allbrecht, Fr.

Kristy Bibb, Fr.

Caitlin MacDonald, Fr.