GILROY – Waiting out bad weather, the Gilroy High girls golf
team’s match with Watsonville was delayed 24-hours and then when
they were finally able to hit the course they had to contend with
less than pristine conditions Wednesday afternoon at Gilroy Golf
Course.
GILROY – Waiting out bad weather, the Gilroy High girls golf team’s match with Watsonville was delayed 24-hours and then when they were finally able to hit the course they had to contend with less than pristine conditions Wednesday afternoon at Gilroy Golf Course.
“It’s tough making contact sometimes because the grass is so wet,” first-year head coach Trudi Souza said. “It’s a struggle.” Souza added that the course held up very well after such a big storm.
Despite some of the puddles and muddy patches – and a few wet socks – the girls were ready to go and showed their eagerness from the first hole on, beating the Wildcats 226-253 to capture their first win of the season.
“These six girls have great attitudes,” Souza said. “They are a fun group to coach.”
Though the team has struggled to put victories in the win column so far this season, the girls have maintained a level of competition and willingness to learn and to help each other.
“We play a lot of schools with really good teams,” senior co-captain Alexis Driggs said prior to teeing of on the first hole Wednesday.
Driggs, the team’s No. 3 player, was paired with junior Cassidy Daley. The duo agreed that though golf can be frustrating, it is always good to have an understanding teammate nearby.
“It’s nice to look over and have a teammate there for support,” Daley said. “It really helps.
Arguably, Daley’s best hole came on the Par 3 fifth, where she came away with a bogey after some nifty chipping.
“She has a nice touch around the green,” Souza said.”
The Mustangs No. 1 player Megan Donahoe and her partner, Laura Fellows – the team’s other co-captain – found their stroke right away with Donahoe consistently hitting the fairway off the tee and Fellows sinking putts on the greens.
“When you hit through the soggy grass, it just slows (the ball) down,” Donahoe said after putting for her second straight bogey on the fourth hole.
Donahoe out-drove the rest of the foursome throughout the round and posted the day’s lowest score.
Souza said that the entire team has improved its play around the greens and credited the girls determination and effort in practice.
“We are a really good putting team,” Souza said. “The work they put in at the beginning of the season has really paid off for them.”
Junior Sophia Blocher and freshman Melissa Peterson round out the Mustangs roster.
Blocher had a nice chip to within about 12 feet of the cup on her first hole of the day. She two-putted from their to wrap up the hole.
The Mustangs return to action against Notre Dame on Tuesday at Gilroy Golf Course.
