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Damian Dottore. Sports. HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Once the school day ends at Beckman, the hard work begins for the Patriots girls golf team.

For the next four hours the players are on the driving range hitting bucket after bucket of balls. Coach Penn Bushong doesn’t make them do it. The Patriots are there because that’s where they want to be.

“We want to get better,” senior Marisa Bhanubandh said. “And our team is very consistent now becasue of all of the practice.”

On Wednesday, four of the five Patriots who teed off at Strawberry Farms Golf Course broke 40, leading No. 2 Beckman to a 188-195 victory against No. 5 University in a Pacific Coast League match. It is the second time in three matches the Patriots (2-1, 1-0) have been in the 180s.

Bhanubandh finished with three birdies and one bogey to post a 2-under-par 34 and earn medalist honors.

“We have been working very hard on our putting and short game, and that’s what’s helped us lower our scores,” Bhanubandh. “That is where the strokes are. And we have been working hard to make sure that we are accurate with our irons.”

Cameron Lee added an even-par 36 for the Patriots while her teammates Priscilla Ki and Chae Lim Lee added a 37 and 39, respectively.

This team, Bushong said, might be the best that he has had at the school when it comes to course management.

“All of them know how to make all of the shots. They are all golfers,” he said. “They work super hard. They have a ton of potential.”

Kristin Shea and Nitya Bhardwaj both carded a 36 to lead the Trojans (4-2, 1-1), who are missing one of their best players.

In other girls golf:

No. 3 Troy 194, Yorba Linda 200: Brittany Sok posted a 3-under-par 33 to medal for the Mustangs (4-1) in the loss at Black Gold Golf Club. The Warriors improved to 5-0 with the nonleague victory.

No. 1 Mater Dei 194, No. 4 Santa Margarita 204: Joy Kim fired an 1-under-par 35 on the North Course at Coto de Caza Country Club to lead the Monarchs (4-0, 1-0) to victory in a Trinity League match. Taylor Chang and Catherine Roddy finished with a 36 for the Eagles (3-2, 0-1).

Foothill 206, Canyon 233: Madie Chou posted a 4-under-par 32 at Tustin Ranch Golf Club to medal for the Knights (3-1, 2-1) in the Crestview League match. Emily Sumner added a 1-over 37 for the Knights, getting an ace on the 144-yard, par-3 No. 6.

Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com