Back Bay golf battle creates mixed emotions

NEWPORT BEACH — Corona del Mar High defeated Newport Harbor in a girls’ golf match, but it was the Sailors who were all smiles with the performance and the Sea Kings who were looking to improve.

Corona del Mar edged Newport Harbor, 233-236, Tuesday in a nonleague match at Newport Beach Country Club. Corona del Mar improved to 2-0, while Newport Harbor fell to 2-1.

The Sea Kings’ senior Courtney Wright was the medalist, shooting a five-over-par 41 on the front nine.

Sophomores Cierra Gaytan-Leach (44) and Kelly Moorhead (48) added low scores for Corona del Mar.

Freshman Ali Thomas posted the low score for the Sailors with a 45, with three other Sailors one shot back at 46.

Wright was pleased with shooting a 41 after notching a 46 in the Sea Kings’ previous match at Newport Beach Country Club on Sept. 6.

“I made a lot of greens in regulation,” said Wright. “My putting has gotten a lot better. I think we have the potential to go far.”

While Wright improved, Corona del Mar as a whole was down from its prior match against Aliso Niguel in which the team posted a 216. Sea Kings’ Coach Mike Starkweather would like to see his team’s score hover in the low 200s.

“This is a very serious group of girls,” Starkweather said. “If you have a bad hole, you don’t let it affect the next hole. They tend to let it get to them. They have the potential to be very good. But that could put too much pressure on them. You just don’t know. Hopefully they can have fun. If they have fun then it will come to them.”

Newport Harbor Coach Scott Tarnow said the Sea Kings probably did not play their best game, but he is excited about the progress of his young team.

Junior Kendall Horn, freshman Lauren Draganza and sophomore Tiffany Kim each shot a 46.

“We played very well for being so young,” Tarnow said. “I see a lot of potential for this year and the years to come.”

The young Sailors also learned something from their first close loss of the season.

“Having a close loss, you understand that every shot can mean winning or losing,” Tarnow said. “Mostly they need to work on their short game. Work on better chipping, putting and course management.”

The Tars meet Foothill and Beckman at Tustin Ranch Golf Club at 2:30 p.m.