The Coronado High School boys’ varsity golf team has kicked off the spring season, and coming off of an exciting 2024 campaign in which the Islanders won the DIII San Diego section CIF championship, they are looking to pick up where they left off.
Head Coach Stuart Gordon, who coached at Crawford High School for 10 years, played in England for 20 years, and has now coached at Coronado High School for 11 years, said that the team’s goals are lofty coming off of the championship.
Gordan said the objectives for 2025 are relatively simple. The Islander’s coach said they are focusing on achieving as many improvements as possible for all players, helping as many as possible to qualify for CIF, and getting players to regionals and state.
This year’s team features three who already have garnered collegiate golf interest: Daniel Vargas recently earned a full ride scholarship to Utah State University, while Connor Wray and Daniel Girault are waiting to hear back from San Diego State University.
“I’ve been playing golf since I can remember,” said Vargas, who made regionals last season. “I started playing competitive golf at the age of six. I play in the junior tournaments in Mexico and then I moved to San Diego to pursue my golf career and to find a scholarship for college here in the states.”Â
Vargas echoed coach Gordon’s expectations for the Islanders this season.
“Our goal for this season is to play some good golf and win CIF and go back-to-back champions and make it to regionals and possibly state,” Vargas said.
Vargas also said Gordon’s positive attitude is infectious.
“Coach Gordon gets the best out of me and my teammates because he’s always enthusiastic with our practices and he’s a great coach,” Vargas said. “He has a great charisma and he’s always pushing me to be a better player and a better person.”
