The Coronado High School girls golf team’s success last season, marked by a City Conference Championship Tournament victory and a runner-up Western League finish, has given way to a rebuilding phase. Four seniors have moved on, and the current roster of nine includes seven players new to the game, along with two returning juniors.
Although most of the golfers are freshmen and have a lot to learn, head coach Stuart Gordon said they’re keen and want to do well.
“The good news is they all hit the ball,” Gordon said. “They’re all hitting the ball longer each time we have practice [and are] gradually getting better in their swing.”
Gordon acknowledged that this season — set from mid-August to the end of October — is likely to be challenging for the team, given that many other schools have retained their experienced players. With five new freshmen who show promise but still have much to learn, he anticipates the Islanders will struggle in league play.
The departure of seasoned players has left a significant gap, making this year more about rebuilding than competing at the top.
Ines Izuzquiza, a recent CHS graduate, distinguished herself at the CIF Individual Championship Tournament last season by securing 6th place overall. Her performance placed her among a group of 12 players, selected from a field of over 115 golfers, to advance to the regional stage.
At the 2023 City Conference Championship Tournament, which featured 46 players from the Eastern and Western Leagues, four Islanders — CHS graduates Bella Villarin Emily Scheurer, Izuzquiza and junior Elleaire Lyons — secured spots in the top 16.
Faced with the crowded conditions on their home base at Coronado Municipal Golf Course, the Islanders have taken their four-day-a-week practices on the road, relocating to Colina Park Golf Course, a 10-mile trek from Coronado.
“We haven’t been able to get on the course because the public has it booked solidly until 6:30 at night,” Gordon said. “We’ve never had trouble practicing [at Coronado] before this year.”
