RHS golfers complete major turnaround
The Ramona High School varsity golf team completed one of the biggest turnarounds in girls’ athletics by winning their final Valley League match against Del Norte High School.
The Lady Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 7-7 record. That’s a big improvement over last season’s 2-12 record. The Lady Dawgs lost two matches by two strokes, so they could have easily been 9-5.
Del Norte only had four golfers available for the match so the match was officially a forfeit. It takes five golfers to register an official score in a dual match. Six golfers usually play. The sixth score is only used as a tie-breaker. Ramona shot a 256 using its top five finishers.
Catie Sundberg shot low score for the Lady Dawgs, firing a 47. Ally Harvey continued playing consistent golf by turning in a score of 48. Kelsey Perry shot 50. Kelsie Domnitz registered a 52. Kammy Fitting contributed a 54. Emily Vandervort shot a 55 and Kia Turner shot 64.
Ramona’s top four golfers beat Del Norte’s top four golfers. Sundberg, Harvey, Perry and Domnitz scores tallied a 197. Del Norte’s four golfers registered a 236.
When asked about the successful season Coach John Rathbun said, “We had a great combination. We had a good group of returners (Kammy, Ally, Kelsie, and Kia) and Kelsey, Ashley (Ramirez) and Catie came up from the junior varsity and Emily joined the team and they all contributed. This team also has great camaraderie. They enjoy playing and they work hard to improve. They are a great group.”
They all did contribute. Four different golfers (Ally, Emily Kelsie and Catie) were medalists during the season. Every member of the team had a score that counted in league play. They also improved from a high score of 301 to the season low of 241.
They will have an opportunity to continue to improve.
“They can get off season lessons and the course is available to them,” said Rathbun.
Some of the teams that they will face in the Palomar League next season are shooting in the 190s.
“The Palomar League will be a big challenge but these girls will work to meet that challenge.”
There is an old adage. “You don’t win golf. You play golf.” The 2009 Lady Bulldog golf team played improved and won. They had a great season.