DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:CdM’s Wright turns pain into gain

Courtney Wright might not be the golfer she is today if it wasn’t for an injury.

Wright chose cheerleading over golf as a freshman at Corona del Mar High, but an injury her sophomore year brought her back to the sport she had played since she was 10 years old.

“I always played golf on the side,” said Wright, now a senior. “I couldn’t do both. I’m happy I chose golf in the end.”

Sea Kings’ Coach Mike Starkweather is also happy. Wright is now a senior co-captain on a CdM team that is 5-0. Wright has been the low scorer for the Sea Kings twice this season, while posting a slightly higher than a seven-over-par 43 average for nine holes.

“She has been a stabilizing factor for our team,” said Starkweather, who is in his 11th year as coach. “She wants to be the best golfer and she wants to have the best scores to impress colleges. Goals have made her what she is.”

Wright’s play earned her Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week honors.

“She has been practicing really hard and playing in a lot of tournaments,” Starkweather said.

Wright played in seven 18-hole tournaments over the summer. One of the tournaments was the Ridgeline Summer Classic, June 26 at Ridgeline Executive Golf Course. Wright won the tournament, in the girls’ 15-18 division, shooting a five-over-par 69.

The victory qualified Wright for the two-day Metro Tournament of Champions at the end of August, in which she finished 17th.

“It was tough because I was playing with girls who were the best in Southern California,” Wright said. “It was a good experience.”

Wright said she also learned lessons on golf while playing tournaments over the summer.

“You need mental strength,” she said. “Focus is a big part of the game.”

And as a co-captain on a young CdM team, Wright helps her teammates maintain their focus over the course of a match.

“I definitely consider myself a leader,” Wright said. “I remind them it’s just a game and to think about the next shot and forget the one behind them. It’s a team sport and I want everyone to do well.”

But high school golf becomes an individual sport as well once postseason rolls around. Last year, Wright did not qualify for the CIF Southern Section individual postseason.

“Last year, I didn’t perform as well,” Wright said. “This year, I really want to make it to CIF individuals.”

Wright hopes to do that by keeping her scorecard in the low 40s at most, and attempting to move into the high 30s.

“I’m pretty satisfied with my performance,” Wright said. “This year, I’ve been really able to straighten out my drives and my iron shots.”

Her play off the tee has kept Wright from wandering from the fairway.

“It can get tough in the rough,” Wright said. “It can get frustrating.”

Wright said the one area of her game in need of a touch up is her putting.

“Short putts I know I can make, have been lipping out,” she said. “You get nervous watching other girls sink their putts, but you just have to focus on your own game.”

And its Wright’s game that has propelled the Sea Kings to a strong start.

COURTNEY WRIGHT

Hometown: Newport Coast

Born: Oct. 19, 1989

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 145

Sport: Golf

Coach: Mike Starkweather

Favorite food: Sushi

Favorite movie: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

Favorite athletic moment: “Winning the state academic championship [by posting a team grade-point average of 3.88, highest in the state for girls’ golf and fourth for all girls’ sports].”

Week in review: She posted the low score for the Sea Kings with a five-over-par 41 in win over Back Bay rival Newport Harbor (sept. 12), then shot 42 against Fountain Valley (Sept. 14).