HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ GOLF:

Perfection apparently breeds the fear of complacency.

Such is the case for the Newport Harbor High girls’ golf team. The Sailors improved to 9-0 Wednesday, but there’s no way Coach Scott Tarnow is content, especially with their Sunset League opener today at Big Canyon Country Club and the defending champ Marina coming to town.

“We actually can play a lot better,” Tarnow said after Harbor beat Aliso Niguel, 231-248. “I don’t want to say we were expecting [to be undefeated], but I want to win them all. I think we have an opportunity if we play to our potential.

“There are four or five matches left that are going to be tight. Both matches with Marina, both with Esperanza and a match with Los Alamitos at their place, and I think that’s it. The goal is to win the Sunset league, but the competition should be close. There are no gimmies that’s for sure. If we play like we did [against Aliso Niguel, a title] will not be happening.”

Tarnow had confidence entering his ninth year at Harbor because he expected the girls would be motivated from the high finish last year. Though the Sailors finished second in the Sunset League in 2007, they took third place at the CIF Southern Section Central Division Championships. It was the highest finish in Tarnow’s tenure and advanced Harbor into the CIF Southern Section Regional Championships.

The Sailors return four from that team, including senior Tiffany Kane, and juniors Lauren Draganza, Ali Thomas and Morgan Moody. Newport Harbor also has junior Casey Jones contributing. She is a transfer from Texas.

Jones and the Sailors have been successful because the girls get along so well, Tarnow said. They spend a lot of time with each other, too. Just last week, the girls stayed at Kane’s house in Palm Desert, where the Sailors were playing in a tournament nearby.

“We all have a lot of fun together,” Kane said. “This year we have a really strong team.”

Draganza is assuredly a reason for that. She’s been one of the top golfers for Newport Harbor this season.

Not long ago, expectations had Draganza becoming one of the Sailors’ best soccer players. But at age 13 she stopped playing soccer to focus on golf. Now she’s on the same page as Tarnow.

“We want to try to go undefeated because that’s never happened at Newport Harbor for boys’ and girls’ golf,” Draganza said. “That would be really neat.”

Here’s a look at the rest of the teams in the Newport-Mesa area:

ESTANCIA

The Eagles are eager to capture the Golden West League championship, after finishing second in the league last year to Laguna Beach. Estancia had won it for two straight years before last season.

This year, the Eagles (5-2, 1-0 in league) know they’ll have to go through Laguna Beach to get it. But Coach Art Perry is confident the girls are capable of winning it, especially with sophomore Ashley Peters leading the way.

“The scores are pretty comparable,” Perry said of Estancia and Laguna Beach which meet Wednesday at the Breakers’ home course, San Clemente Golf Course. “I think it’s going to be tight. But I think we can win. I think we can beat them in San Clemente.”

Junior Kim Haycraft and senior Jackie Crosson, the team captain, are also valuable contributors, as are juniors Maritza Gonzalez and Gina DeArkal.

Estancia is missing junior Tess Hill, one of its top players, who transferred to Newport Harbor and is not playing golf this season.

CORONA DEL MAR

The Sea Kings are a bit young in experience this year. Still they opened Pacific Coast League play with a win over San Juan Hills Tuesday. Juniors Tess Crane, Amanda Johnson and Lisa Chan are among the contributors this season for CdM (4-4, 1-0).

Senior Kelly Moorhead is the Sea Kings’ leader, while sophomore Hyebin Hong is a key newcomer for Coach Mike Starkweather’s Sea Kings.

COSTA MESA

Competition is not so much primary with the Mustangs, who more often than not have players who are golfing for the first time. Coach Tom Baldwin helps them learn the game. The longtime coach returned to the team recently after going through intestinal surgery during the summer. Baldwin, 75, had been checking on the team while he recovered.

With six new players on the team, Baldwin looks to his four returners to help with the teaching. Seniors Lindsay Slaney, Taylor Whalen and Briana Ross as well as junior Melissa Dean are the Mustangs’ returners.

Mesa (0-3, 0-1 in the Golden West League) knows that Estancia and Laguna Beach are the league favorites and will do its best to stay away from being the last-place team.

SAGE HILL

The Lightning have a new coach in Patrick Pollock, who is also the head coach for the frosh-soph boys’ basketball team and boys’ golf team at Sage Hill.

Pollock became the coach a week before the first day of school at Sage, where he is coaching girls’ golf for the first time. His debut might be a bit bumpy. It’s starting out rough, as the Lightning are 0-3, 0-2 in the Academy League.

But he remains confident the team will improve with senior Kelsey Venditozzi leading the way.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com.