Gators’ coach expects streak to end this year

Nick Christensen

Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003 | 9:32 a.m.

Common sense says that a prep golf coach whose team owns a winning streak of 136 dual matches does not have much to worry about.

Common sense does not know Green Valley girls' golf coach Nick Garritano.

Garritano makes no beef about it: He expects to be beaten by Bishop Gorman this year, bringing an end to his amazing winning streak.

"High school golf is about your depth, and they are very deep. They have five kids that are very, very talented," Garritano said. "There shouldn't be any reason they don't win the thing this year. I've heard they are just about as talented as any golf team has been around here in about five to 10 years."

Justina Yu, a senior who was in the top ten in Nevada last year, leads the Gaels. But, as Garritano said, "In high school golf, it's not how good your one or two is, it's how good your three, four, and five golfers are."

Clare Schneider, Shannon Wong, Angelica Wright, Lauren Hernandez, Desiree Del Rosario, and Jennie Sanford round out Gorman's daunting lineup.

That poses a problem for Gorman coach Kelsey McCall.

"We've got more girls who can play than girls that can play in a match," McCall said. "We're playing just to see who can qualify for the matches. That's pretty rare in high school girls' golf. Our biggest competition is amongst ourselves."

McCall's biggest worry is that playing in the light Southwest division, his girls will not experience real pressure until the playoffs.

"We need to see what it feels like when the pressure's on," McCall said. "My biggest fear is we don't get there, other than playing against ourselves."

Gorman will travel this weekend to Prescott, Ariz., to play in an invitational. McCall also plans on taking his Gaels to tournaments in Portland, Ore., and Scotland after the season ends.

"They're fun to play golf with. They challenge each other, they laugh, we have fun," McCall said. "I'm really looking forward to this season. With these girls, when the high school season ends, they're going to still be playing."

Despite Garritano's tale of woe, expect his Gators, along with Palo Verde, Silverado, Centennial, and Cimarron to lead the South in girls' golf this year.

Coronado's Joe Sawaia said two Gators stand out in his mind as some of southern Nevada's top talent.

"Chelsea Pendleton and Nicole McGirr from Green Valley ... I start the list with them, because they're the two main returners from the defending state championship team," Sawaia said. "They played a lot of junior golf, and that's pretty important in the tournaments."

Garritano said his girls' well-rounded game is what makes them so impressive.

"The thing that's key to them, and the key to any good golfer is they're solid in all aspects of their game," he said. "If they get in trouble, they get out of trouble. They realize that golf is a game where you're going to make a couple mistakes. The best way to avoid those high numbers is to get out of trouble once you get into trouble."

In the Sunset region, Palo Verde's Katy Barrett plays a similar, well-rounded game.

"She's a senior this year, and her average was even par," Panthers coach Peggy Lair said. "All parts of her game are strong. She drives it well. She focuses on her short game, which helps too. She's an all-around good golfer, and very competitive."

Durango's Sondia Gogue also looks to impress, but Durango has struggled early as a team.

So, the focus turns to the almost inevitable playoff battle between Green Valley and Bishop Gorman. Garritano's one hope may come in the very nature of the game.

"The neat thing about golf is, it's you versus a course," he said. "You're not playing against another individual. There's nothing you can do to stop the individual, if they're shooting well or shooting bad."