Samson Li, finished in a tie for 3rd place in the Alhambra Spring Championship, over the weekend. Samson, “Pogo” (a nickname his coach has attached to him because of his method of generating speed by using ground force’s), shot a 40 (+4) in the Alhambra event. A birdie on 4 with 3 bogies on 2, 6, and 8 and a double on 5, was a pretty good job for the youngster, working hard to follow his sister, Trussy, (earned a scholarship play for the University of Denver, this fall). Franklin Zhu, shot a 42 and placed tied for 7th. Franklin, had a birdie and 3 bogies, but was derailed with a double on 4 and a double on the 9th hole.
In the Girls 9-11 Division, Bridget Chantharath, continue’s her improvement with a tie for 4th place with a 41 (+5). Bridget, got off to a tough start with bogies on one and two. She rebounded with par’s on three and four, but a bogey on 5, broke her swing. Undeterred, Bridget, she posted 3 par’s in a row, on 6, 7, and 8. Unfortunately, she had trouble “finishing” on 9 with a double bogey 6. The double bogey, cost her 2nd place.
Samson Li, posted a respectable 36 (+5) at the Casta del Sol Spring Championship. Samson’s, 36, got him a 4th place finish to give him 2 top 5’s for the weekend. Peter Hu, playing in the Boys 12-14 Division, finished in a tie for 17th with a 78 (+18).
Franklin Zhu, teed it up at the Los Amigos Spring Championship, and shot a 53 (+17) in the Boys 9-11 Division, while Alesia Barry, shot a 51 to finish 7th in the Girls 9-11 Division.
Emily (Xintong) Jiang, opened her 2018 season with a tie for 6th place at the Dad Miller Championship. Emily, shot a nice 84 (+13) in her opening event. Her twin sister, Emma (Xinyan), struggled with a 99 to finish in 16th place.
Play on the Toyota Tour Championship, continued with Charissa Shang, finishing in a tie for 20th position at 85-81 (166). The 8th grader from Calabasas, CA., struggled without a birdie in the 36 hole event. Portion’s of the event were played in adverse weather (rain). Charissa’s, coach, George Pinnell, always has stressed that if a player will practice in “foul” weather condition’s, that it will give that player an advantage to everyone else who has not prepared in the wind, rain or cold or even hot condition’s. Those player’s who prepare, know what they are facing, and are prepared, while the remainder of the field has “given up” and will have no chance to finish strong, or win the event. Preparation in all conditions, will lead to more success.
Kaitlyn You, finished in a tie for 22nd with 83-84 (167). Kaitlyn, who recently changed her coach, to George Pinnell, is working hard to get her club more on plane so that she can achieve the ball flight that she prefer’s. Pinnell, said, “Kaitlyn, can now get the club back on plane, but she need’s to work hard to ‘own it”. Once she can get it to plane out, she will be able to match up the face to her plane and hit the more desirable ball flight she is looking for.”
Matt Huo, got off to a good start with a solid 73 in the Boys Toyota Tour Championship, but gave it back with a 2nd round 81 that left him in a tie for 114th at 73-81 (154).