Alyaa Abdulghany seemed overwhelmed and at a loss for words as she talked about her day at Pebble Beach.
Eventually the Corona del Mar junior settled on one word to describer her emotions: humbled.
At the beginning of the girls golf season, qualifying for the CIF State Championship was her only goal. She not only did that, but she won the tournament Tuesday and set a tournament record in the process.
Her 2-under-par 69 at Poppy Hills Golf Course put her two shots clear of the field. To commemorate her historic score, she signed a scorecard and pin flag which will be framed and hung in the Northern California Golf Association offices at Pebble Beach.
“It is a one-of-a-kind experience,” said Abdulghany, who was 4-under-par when she made the turn. “I am honored that I could do this for Corona del Mar.”
She shot in the 60s in all but one of her seven postseason rounds, giving her a 69.14 stroke average in the postseason.
“I am still in shock. This is a beautiful thing,” Corona del Mar coach Mike Starkweather said. “We have been blessed. She is truly an amazing player.”
Foothill senior Madie Chou posted a 3-over-par 74 and tied for seventh. University senior Ellen Takada (75) tied for eighth, and CdM senoir Amy Matsuoka (77) and Woodbridge Yuki Yoshihara (78) tied for 16th and 19th, respectively.
Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com
