On a successful course

Jeff Tully

BURBANK HIGH -- Two years ago, a 13-year-old Moah Chang followed her

father to the golf course to watch him play a round.

“When I saw him playing I thought that the sport looked fun, so I

started playing,” said the Burbank High sophomore.

That was when Chang, 15, began an obsession with the sport that has

brought her success with the first-year Bulldog program.

“I play every day now,” Chang said in a matter-of-fact way.

“It was hard at first learning the sport, but now it’s fun,”

All of Chang’s hard work has seemed to have paid off, as she has turned

into a talented golfer for the Bulldogs during their inaugural season.

Not only did Chang finish second in the Foothill League -- behind Hart

High’s Sara Jones -- but she also qualified for the CIF Women’s Southern

California Golf Assn. tournament, which was held last week at the

Members’ Club in Temecula.

Against some of the top female high school golfers in Southern

California, Chang finished tied for 12th place, shooting a 4-over 76.

“I was a little nervous about playing,” Chang said. “But I was really

happy with the way that I played.”

Burbank Coach Rich Sarquiz said Chang has remarkable athletic ability

for someone who has been playing the sport for such a short time.

“That is because she is so dedicated,” Sarquiz said. “She is just so

consumed with the sport, she wants to play all of the time.”

Sarquiz said not only does Chang possess a fine short game, but she

also hits the ball well and keeps her shots on the fairway.

“And that’s important in high school golf,” Sarquiz said.

If Chang maintains her stringent work ethic and continues to improve,

Sarquiz said he expects her to get even better.

“My hopes are fairly high for her and for her to continue to improve,”

he said.

With two more seasons left with Burbank, look for Chang to make her

way up through the high- school ranks in the coming years.

And if she does, maybe then she will reward herself with a day off

from golf.