Yu’s 73 helps Gorman cruise to state title

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

Justina Yu seemed unsure of herself as she made her way to the front of the crowd Tuesday to accept the medal as individual state champion, slinking along with a smile on her ducked head.

It was about the only time that the Bishop Gorman senior looked less than confident anywhere around the golf course in the past few weeks.

Yu fired a one-over round of 73, closing up a two-day total of 147 to win the 4A State Tournament at Tuscany Golf Club by five strokes over Palo Verde's Katy Barrett and Durango's Sondia Gogue. Yu's margin of victory paled in comparison to that of her Bishop Gorman squad, which claimed the team championship by a stunning 61 strokes over second-place Galena.

"They all played with so much courage today," Gaels coach Kelsey McCall said.

No one displayed more of that courage than Yu, the senior leader of a Bishop Gorman team featuring four talented underclassmen. Yu shared the first-day lead with Galena's Luxchmi Gill, and she then found herself in a back nine battle with Silverado's Chloe Nelson.

Yu, the Sunset Region tournament champion, felt the pressure of competing in the final nine holes of her career.

"All of a sudden, the atmosphere just got tense," Yu said. "There was a lot of pressure going on."

McCall was impressed with Yu's composure, especially when the senior reached for a 7-wood to try to reach the 18th green in a situation where no one would have questioned her for laying up.

"That was one of the best shots I've ever seen," McCall said.

The Gaels put together plenty of good shots out in the heat, with no rounds over 93 from six golfers over two days. Gorman's top five golfers all finished within the top 21 on the leaderboard. Angelica Wright finished in a tie for 12th place at 163, Clare Schneider placed 15th at 164, Desiree Del Rosario closed in a tie for 16th at 167, and Shannon Wong was 21st at 171.

Tops, though, was Yu, who never faltered en route to the title. She struggled to describe the achievement through her excitement.

"This is probably the best thing that's happened in my high school career," Yu said.

Yu struggled in the state playoffs in her junior season, but those thoughts were far from her mind this season.

"Last year, she went up to Reno and her game just wasn't there," McCall said. "I've never seen the courage and the heart."

Barrett shot a final-round 72 and Gogue closed with a 75. Barrett was named the second place finisher because of a better back nine score Tuesday. Nelson finished with a 78 to place fourth at 153 and Green Valley's Nicole McGirr claimed the fifth-place medal with a 154.

The Gaels finished with a two-day score of 812, which bested Galena at 873. Palo Verde placed third at 894 and Green Valley closed with a 907.