Fairfax High School in Los Angeles didn't have a girls golf team. That is until this year, and Angelina Kim sure is glad that is the case.
Playing in her first CIF/SCGA Regional High School Championship, Kim, a former winner of the SoCal Junior Amateur Golf Championship, survived a two-hole playoff to earn medalist honors at Canyon Crest CC. The finish advances her to her first State Championship, which will be held next week at Poppy Hills GC in Northern California.
"I'm really excited to go to State," said Kim. "I played a team event up at Poppy Hills once and liked the course. It's beautiful up there."
In a field full of 124 girls, Kim put together one of two rounds of 4-under par 69 on the day, collecting six birdies and ending the long day in a tie for first place with Isabel Sy of Troy High School. The two top junior golfers played the 134-yard par 3 fourth hole two times before an eventual individual champion was crowned.
"My drives were going straight all day, and it's really important at this course to have your ball in the fairway," said Kim. "The greens are tough, so being in good position off the tee gave me good looks at birdie often."
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The runner-up finish for Sy was easier to handle, however, by the fact that her Troy High School team emerged victorious in the Team Championship, edging out the Walnut Mustangs by 1 stroke. A rivalry that dates back to last year, Troy High School defended its title at the Regional Championship, but hopes to avenge a Walnut State Championship at Red Hill CC in which Troy finished as runner-up. At Canyon Crest, Walnut was led by Katharine Muzi, who finished T3 with a 3-under par 70.
In addition to Sy's 4-under par 69, Troy was also led by Elyse Kim and Kaylee Sakoda, who turned in scores of 3-over 76, good enough for T29 on the individual leaderboard.
Other teams advancing to the State Championship include Walnut and the University Trojans, who beat out the Mater Dei Monarchs by three strokes to take the third and final qualifying team spot. In addition to the qualifying teams, nine individuals not on qualifying teams also advanced to Poppy Hills, with the final three spots being awarded after a two-hole playoff. The State Championship takes place at Poppy on Nov. 14.
QUALIFYING TEAMS
Troy Warriors
Walnut Mustangs
University Trojans
