Beckman on the brink of history
TUSTIN - It’s a number that not many girls are fortunate enough to see on their scorecard during their high school golf careers.
For Kaitlin Park, however, it has become just another round. The Beckman senior has gone 4-under-par so many times this season at Tustin Ranch Golf Club, she’s kind of lost track just how many times she posted a 32.
She did it again on Tuesday to help lead the No. 4 Patriots to a 204-211 Pacific Coast League victory against No. 9 Northwood even though she was still a bit tired after taking the red-eye home from Oklahoma last night.
She was among the top 30 girls in the nation who got a tee time at the prestigious Ping Invitational in Stillwater, finishing in a tie for seventh in the 54-hole tournament that ended on Monday.
“It was fantastic. The whole experience was great, and I am so glad that I got to go,” she said. “It was everything that I thought it was going to be. I am going to cherish the golf bag I got there forever. And I got to meet Hunter Mahan again.”
Mahan, the runner-up in the PGA’s FedEx Cup championship, stopped by Karsten Creek Golf Course to answer some questions for all of the players at the tournament.
“That was great. Just to be there at that level was amazing,” she said. “It was so competitive, and everyone there just thought about winning.”
On Tuesday, Park holed five birdies during her round on the back nine of Tustin Ranch as she medaled for the 14th time this season for the Patriots (15-2, 8-1). Tracey Kim carded a 1-under-par 35 to lead the Timberwolves (6-2, 6-2).
The Patriots have one more match remaining this season, and if they beat University on Thursday at Strawberry Farms Golf Course, Beckman would clinch its first championship in girls golf.
“That would mean the world to me. My girls (her teammates) have worked so hard over the summer. I have seen them improve so much,” she said. “If we win it, we will get recognized at our school, and it would be great to leave on a note like that.”
In other girls golf:
In the Orange League
Loara 247, Orange 270: Kaelyn Allenson posted a 9-over par 44 at Dad Miller Golf Course to help the Saxons (10-3, 9-0) clinch the first league championship in the program’s 13-year history
