Year in Review

In its second year as a Southern Section-sanctioned sport, girls’ golf took off by going under.

Girl golfers in Orange County this season shot under par at least 17 times in matches--including at least one round by each member of the all-county team. Last season, only four sub-par rounds were reported.

The across-the-board improvement leveled the playing field. University ran away with the section title in 1998, and many thought the Trojans, with all their starters returning, would do the same this year.

But a palpable statement was made when three teams finished ahead of University at the section team championships.

“‘I think this shows that the girls are getting better,” University Coach Patti Anduri said at the time. “Look at those scores. There are some good teams out there.”

And the most encouraging sign is the number of underclassmen playing at a high level. Many teams had freshmen as their No. 1 players. Most will return their entire lineups next season.

“This was only the beginning,” Villa Park Coach Gordon Sutorius said. “It’s still a new sport and its going to continue to improve.”

First Team

Courtney Goebel

Marina,

Senior

The only senior on the first team, Goebel is a repeat all-county selection. She tore through the regular season, averaging 39.3 over nine holes and won medalist honors in 16 of the Vikings’ 18 matches. She shot one-under-par 28 to win the Newport Harbor tournament by one stroke over Stella Lee and shot 74 to take top individual honors in the Estancia tournament by a stroke over Shelly Raworth. Goebel’s postseason accomplishments included winning the Sunset League title by eight shots--her second consecutive league title. Her 83 at the Southern team regional and 82 at the Southern Section individual championships were among the top 10 scores from the county. Goebel has signed to play at Michigan next season.

Stella Lee

Irvine,

Junior

A transfer from Cerritos Gahr, Lee wasted little time establishing herself as one of the best in the county. Her 36.0 regular-season average was best among county players and her sizzling three-under-par 33 at Oak Creek was the best county score this season on a regulation course. It was one of four rounds under par for Lee, who was medalist in 13 of the 14 matches she played. Her shots kept flying at the flags in the postseason, when she averaged 76.4. She shot 71-74 at Coto de Caza South to win the Sea View League title by 10 shots, and her 77 at the CIF-WSCGA championships was second-best among county players. Lee’s solid play helped the Vaqueros come within a tiebreaker of advancing to the Southern Section championships.

Shelly Raworth

Villa Park,

Junior

If Priscilla Park was the drive down the middle of the fairway that sparked the Spartans, Raworth was the well-placed approach shot. The two-time all-county selection averaged 40.4 during the regular season, including a school-record one-under-par 35 at Green River Orange Course, helping the Spartans run away with the Century League title. She was medalist in six of the Spartans’ 18 matches and led them to the Estancia tournament title with a 75. Runner-up to Park in the Century League tournament, Raworth shot 77 in the Southern Section individual championships--third best among county players. The 76 she carded at the section team championships was pivotal in the Spartans’ third-place finish--best among county schools.

Angela Won

University

Sophomore

The 1998 player of the year had another excellent season. Her 37.5 scoring average was a stroke better than last year’s, an average lowered by two rounds under par. Her solid play earned her medalist honors in 14 of the Trojans’ 18 matches and helped them win the Pacific Coast League title. Consistent postseason play produced a county-best 74.8 average and an impressive 24-stroke victory in the Pacific Coast League finals. Her 78 at the Southern Regional boosted the Trojans to a 19-stroke victory and she shot a county-best 75 at the Southern Section individual finals. Her 72 at the Southern Section team finals was second among county players, and a 79 at the CIF-WSCGA finals was instrumental in the Trojans’ victory there.

Second Team

Carling Cho

School: Dana Hills; Year: Sophomore

Notable: South Coast League champion averaged 41 and was medalist in 12 of 16 matches.

Kelly Hunt

School: Newport Harbor; Year: Sophomore

Notable: Averaged 42.1 and led Sailors to 17-0 regular season.

Sunny Lee

School: University; Year: Junior

Notable: 39.7 average, 81.3 in postseason for CIF-WSCGA champion Trojans.

Channing Lovejoy

School: Woodbridge; Year: Senior

Notable: Medalist in 12 of 14 matches with 38.6 average.

Megan Mulhaupt

School: Santa Margarita; Year: Junior

Notable: Averaged 41 for No. 4-ranked Eagles; was medalist seven times.