Coach calls this year’s Rancho Bernardo girls golf team ‘the best ever’

This was the year Rancho Bernardo was going to seriously challenge Torrey Pines for section girls’ golf supremacy.

Then, in their first two head-to-head matches, Torrey Pines won by 16 and then 10 strokes.

Was Broncos coach Robert Park concerned — maybe a little panicky?

“No, not really,” said Park who promptly proclaimed that this is the best girls golf team ever at Rancho Bernardo High. “In those two matches, we were missing one of our best players, Amanda Peng.

“Take the scores we shot against Del Norte (last Thursday) and match them against Torrey Pines when we played them, and we’d win. We’re getting better and better each year.”

Mind you, Torrey Pines is the defending state team champion with Zoe Jiamanukootkit, the defending section titlist and runner up in the state last year after winning the year before, leading the way. The Falcons have six state championship banners hanging in the gym.

Park, obviously, is fully aware and isn’t intimidated.

“We have five very, very good players and the Nos. 6 and 7 have the ability to jump into the top five any day,” he said. “We only lost to them by three strokes in the section finals last year and we’re a better team now.

“Remember, we were leading after the first day last year and they rallied on the second day. In golf, anything can happen.”

Park proudly points out that every member of the Broncos team comes straight from the neighborhood.

“We are the most organic local high school group and our relationship with the community and Bernardo Heights Country Club couldn’t be better,” he said. “We’re very proud of that. Our kids are looking to get college scholarships to eventually work and contribute to the community.

“We golf for fun, and I love it.”

The top five players include senior co-captains Madelyn Reyes and Kayla Geng, sophomores Amanda Peng and Sophia Reyes and freshman Lillian Peng, who last week was the No. 2-ranked golfer in the section behind Jiamanukootkit.

There are a handful of girls vying for that sixth spot with Hannah Stoffers and Leilah Prairie making the biggest push.

Last week Reyes fired a personal best three-under 33 over the Bernardo Heights Red front nine, showing her consistency by collecting three birdies and the rest pars.

“The two captains are diametrically opposite,” Park said . “Kayla is very precise while Madelyn is a long-ball hitter. But they are true leaders. I was a career Marine, spending 21 years, and I appreciate real leaders who have that charisma.

“Lillian Phee just started playing four years ago and in her first high school match, she shot a 4-under par 32. She’s made tremendous progress. Sophia and Amanda have shown consistency and have a history of playing well in the big matches.

“I’m no pro, so I don’t mess with their strokes. I just try to make it fun and work on those six inches between their ears — the mental game.”

As for the other two, Stoffers, a sophomore, got a chance to be among the six players against Del Norte and calmly shot a 42 to tie for the No. 4 spot. Prairie, the lone junior, has had her big days as well.

Park says having Bernardo Heights Country Club as a home course is golden.

“We have a big advantage in that Bernardo Heights CC really is a ‘home’ advantage. They treat us so well and they know how to deal with kids because they’re involved in junior golf. I’d say 95 percent of the schools in the state don’t have that true “home” course.

And the players?

“You realize they’re high school kids when you see how they react to different situations,” said Park. “These kids all know each other and when they play against each other, they just have different shirts.

“When we finished fourth in the Southern California Regional, which is really the state championship, we missed qualifying for state by one spot. Once they got over it (in about five minutes), they wanted to know where we were going for dinner.” 

While Park would love to dislodge Torrey Pines, it’s not the end-all.

“We’re catching up, and on any given day, it can happen with this group,” he said. “It would be a great victory but it’s not us versus them. The key continues to be having fun.”