TUSTIN – After beating No. 3 Beckman, 195-201, on Wednesday, University girls golf coach Kevin Kasper told the No. 1 Trojans to take pride in and enjoy what they had just accomplished at Tustin Ranch Golf Club.
For the first time since 2012, the Trojans came out on top in a match on the Patriots’ home course.
But the celebration, Kasper cautioned, couldn’t last more than one night. Come morning, he said, it was a time to turn the page. An important date with Woodbridge awaits Thursday afternoon.
While Wednesday’s triumph against Beckman gives the Trojans inside track toward winning the Pacific Coast League championship which has belonged to Beckman for the past three seasons, University still has to win both of its remaining matches with the Warriors to wrap up first place.
“That is a really important match now,” Kasper said. “For us we would love to win league. It is no more important for us this year than any other year, but it is sure nice to come in here and win at this course. The home course advantage is huge for them here.”
University junior Samantha Cabunag said the Patriots have a clear edge over the visitors at Tustin Ranch when it comes to putting and short game.
“That is the big factor. It is always hard for us to adjust to that when it comes to different courses because everything is so much different,” she said. “It makes it that much harder.”
Cabunag said she didn’t have her best day at Tustin Ranch as she only holed one birdie on the front nine, but she still posted a 2-over-par 38 which tied Nodoka Honda for Trojan’s lowest score on Wednesday.
Cameron Lee earned medalist honors shooting a 2-under-par 34 to lead Beckman.
Wednesday’s match illustrates perfectly the Trojans’ strength this season. The worst score that University posted was a 40. It is rare for a girls golf team to have that much consistency and depth.
“This feels amazing. It is awesome,” Cabunag said after the victory. “It would be great for us to win league. We have been so close to beating them, but it has been a while since we have gotten there. Winning league would be a great thing for us to do this year.”
Contact the writer: ddottore@scng.com
