Girls golf: Mustangs breaking through with You

Richard Dunn

COSTA MESA - Not every sporting situation is based on wins and

loses, but measured by a team’s camaraderie and willingness to grow as a

unit.

For the inexperienced Costa Mesa High girls golf team, the meals

shared together and traveling to different golf courses can form long

friendships.

“They all like each other and get along well,” Costa Mesa Coach Lynn

Welker said of her five-member squad.

Costa Mesa features two returning varsity players, including sophomore

standout Jean You, and three newcomers, highlighted by junior Jessica

Bunnell, whose low scores have pushed her into the No. 2 position.

“Jessica just began playing golf at the end of August. She’s a brand

new player, but she’s fantastic. She has so much ability,” Welker said.

You, the team’s No. 1 player, has already earned medalist honors twice

in the preseason -- against Huntington Beach at David L. Baker Golf

Course and against Orange at River View, a 304-319 nonleague victory for

the Mustangs Sept. 20.

“Jean will be in contention this year for medalist honors in some of

our matches,” added Welker, whose team opened Pacific Coast League action

Thursday against Northwood at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine.

You, whose work ethic and practice habits have lifted her to the top

of the Mesa chart, Welker said, and junior Celinda Sandoval are the

returning varsity members. Bunnell, freshman Marie Huyler and sophomore

Jane Tungka are the Mustangs’ first-time varsity performers in a year

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

(instead of three).

“When I get girls on the team, often they’ve never held a golf club

before,” said Welker, a fine arts teacher at Costa Mesa who is coaching

her fourth varsity season. “I get them on the ground floor.”

Earlier this week, members of the team weren’t playing golf, but

preparing for a bake sale that evening during Back to School Night as a

fund-raiser for the program.

The Mustangs will play PCL and Newport-Mesa District foe Corona del

Mar Monday at Newport Beach Golf Course, then Estancia Tuesday at Costa

Mesa Golf & Country Club (Mesa Linda course), which is Mesa’s home

course.

“That should be fun,” Welker said of the match with Mesa’s crosstown

rival.

The Mustangs also play Orange Lutheran Wednesday at Ridgeline Golf

Course.

Costa Mesa roster

Jean You, So.

Jessica Bunnell, Jr.

Celinda Sandoval, Jr.

Marie Huyler, Fr.

Jane Tungka, So.

Coach: Lynn Welker