Girls golf: Estancia aiming for middle of fairway

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - Filling varsity roster spots with girls who have never

played golf before, at least competitively, Estancia High Coach Art Perry

views the 2001 autumn as more of a transition year than a season on par.

“We could be pretty good if we counted only three and played four, but

with the new CIF (Southern Section) rule, we’re counting five and playing

six,” said Perry, echoing a theme among smaller schools scrambling to

field competitive six-girl golf teams.

Perry isn’t criticizing any of his players, merely pointing out

perhaps a degree of injustice in a sport barely growing, according to

some Newport-Mesa District coaches.

“(The new increased-scoring rule) will only benefit the bigger

schools,” Perry said. “There’s only one division in girls golf, so we’re

competing against everybody. It’s a disadvantage to us, playing six and

counting five, instead of counting three, but we’ll be all right.

“We don’t have a lot of girls coming in with experience and we’ve got

to build them all. The Corona del Mar girls have girls who have been

playing for a number of years and have financial backing, but that’s

where we are at Estancia.”

The Eagles, fourth in the Pacific Coast League last year, a tough

league this year with CdM and two-time defending CIF/SCGA champion

University, return three varsity players and feature six seniors. No

wonder Perry prefers the old method of counting three scores.

Heading the 2001 list is senior April Duch, followed by seniors Trang

Do and Jennifer Patton, all three returning letter winners. For Duch and

Do, it’s their fourth year in the program.

Seniors Georgina Ortua and Michelle Monette are up from last year’s

junior varsity and should improve, while senior Rabia Khan, in her first

year playing golf, will fill the squad’s No. 6 role.

“We also have a JV team with six new girls coming out,” Perry said.

“That’s six new girls just learning how to play. They won’t be a factor

(on varsity this year), but we have to plan for the future. That is our

future.”

With the new CIF scoring rule, Perry said some players at the bottom

of the Estancia lineup might “double par every hole,” and, thus, turn a

nine-hole match into a 3 1/2-hour affair, which he considers dangerous,

because clubs donating tee times could eventually end the generosity.

“I think in general Costa Mesa is in the same position as we are,”

Perry said. “Newport Harbor is down and CdM might be decent, even though

there’s not that great of depth with (the Sea Kings). Northwood and

University will be OK. Those (Irvine-based) schools have more players

with more experience.”

Estancia roster

April Duch, Sr.

Trang Do, Sr.

Jennifer Patton, Sr.

Michelle Monette, Sr.

Georgina Ortua, Sr.

Rabia Khan, Sr.