Piedmont High School’s girls golf team is off to a good start, going 3-3 in its first trip through the West Alameda County Conference’s double-round-robin regular season.
“We have a good group that’s improving,” said first-year coach Gary Lorin.
Lorin said he feels good about his two two players: juniors Mei Assalian and Mackenzie Seto-Nguyen.
“Great swing, very repeatable swing, very good short game, doesn’t hit the ball a long way but very straight and works hard on her game,” Lorin said of Assalian. “What I’m trying to work on with her a little bit is tactics. Where you aim, how you play the hole.”
Of Seto-Nguyen, Lorin said, “She’s very knowledgeable about golf. Her dad taught her everything she knows. Shes a little more erratic. But also works on her game. Very good with the other girls, helps teach the other girls when the ask her a question.”
The next three on the ladder are all seniors: Henley Lorin (Gary’s daughter), Lily Caldwell, and Stella Izakson.
For Henley Lorin and Caldwell, Gary Lorin said the keys are, “Hitting the ball more consistently and hitting it in the air. Their short game is improving but it needs more work. That will get them lower scores for sure.”
Izakson and No. 6 Mariah Lane, a freshman, are new to the game and working hard.
Piedmont opened the season Aug. 23 at Metropolitan Golf Links facing Bishop O’Dowd and San Leandro. The Highlanders lost to the Dragons and beat the Pirates with Assalian taking medalist honors with a 41.
On Aug. 30 at Tilden Park, Piedmont defeated Berkeley.
On Sept. 6 at Sequoyah Country Club, Alameda beat the Highlanders, 238-287. And on Sept. 13 at Monarch Bay Golf Course against Castro Valley and Arroyo, Piedmont again split. The scores were the Trojans 205, the Highlanders 233 and the Dons 268.
A Sept. 20 match against Bishop O’Dowd and San Leandro was postponed due to the air quality. Piedmont’s next match is Sept. 27 at Sequoyah against Berkeley.