Golf Coach at Aliso Niguel Tries to Find Silver Lining

Wayne Westling could be sulking about what might have been, but chooses instead to contemplate what still might be.

Westling coaches at Aliso Niguel High, where the girls’ golf team at the end of last season looked like it would dominate this season.

The Wolverines finished second in the season-ending CIF-WSCGA in November and had their four starters returning. Moreover, Dana Hills’ Carling Cho, who finished third in the Southern Section and CIF-WSCGA individual finals, said she would transfer to Aliso Niguel.

But over the summer, the seemingly invincible Wolverines became just one of the pack.

Cho’s transfer request was rejected because Aliso Niguel had reached student capacity. Top player Leisl Hasbrouck moved to Texas, where her father took a new job. No. 2 player Charmaine Erasmus transferred to the Leadbetter Junior Golf Academy in Florida.

“It would have been nice,” Westling said. “We would have had a lot of scores under 200 and I don’t think there are any schools around that are going to do that on a legitimate par-36 course.”

Westling, however, still believes Aliso Niguel has a shot at the Sea View League title and a berth in the section finals.

Candy Lin and Elizabeth Komatsu return, and with the scoring change from three players to five, lack of depth will be a problem for nearly everyone.

“Just looking at the competition, I think we can still win the league,” Westling said. “Everyone is looking for the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 players. It’s going to be very interesting.”

Staying home: Cho’s return makes Dana Hills one of Southern California’s top teams.

The South Coast League champions missed advancing to the section finals by two strokes last season, but have their four starters returning. And they improved their depth with the addition of Jackie Kazarian, a transfer from Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Kazarian averaged 46.2 strokes for nine holes last year.

Returning starters Brittany Tall (45.8 average last year) and Andrea Dupray (48.5) are solid, and Cho (39.3) gives the team a legitimate No. 1 player and one of the deepest lineups in girls’ golf.

Triple threat: Two-time defending champion Julie McKenna of Newbury Park is seeking a three-peat today in the third annual Santa Ynez tournament at the Alisal River Course in Solvang.

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THE TIMES’ RANKINGS / GIRLS’ GOLF

1. Redondo Union (0-0, SS-Ocean)

Kurokawa shot one-under in practice round.

2. Marina (1-0, SS-Sunset)

Off to solid start with 235 in opener.

3. Villa Park (0-0, SS-Century)

Should remain among elite teams.

4. Esperanza (1-0, SS-Sunset)

Shot 225 in opener at difficult Yorba Linda CC.

5. Dana Hills (0-0, SS-South Coast)

Has depth to make run at Southern Section title.

6. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame

(1-0, SS-Mission)

Unimpressive 267 in opening match.

7. Harvard-Westlake (0-0, SS-Mission)

Two-time section runner-up looking for elusive title.

8. Rosary (1-0, SS-Serra)

Top-10 newcomer opened with 211 at par-33 Fullerton GC.

9. Temecula Valley (0-0, SS-Southwestern)

Golden Bears are best in East region.

10. Long Beach Wilson (0-0, SS-Moore)

Should exceed last year’s sixth-place finish in section finals.