The Ernest Righetti High School varsity girls’ golf team finished second place this season when it was outscored by San Luis Obispo High School, 456-490, on Oct. 23 at the Dairy Creek Golf Course in San Luis Obispo.
Even though the Warriors couldn’t repeat claiming the league championship this season, their youngest player, Sarah Fouratt, shot the lowest score, 79, at the PAC 8 season finals and received a medal.
Fouratt planned to head to the CIF Southern Section Individual Regional in Oxnard on Oct. 27.
“She’s been consistent for us all year,” head coach Brian Tomooka said. “She has a good mental makeup for the game. You can’t teach that kind of attitude.”
Fouratt either won or tied for a medal in every tournament this season, Tomooka said.
She shot a 73, her lowest score of the season, at the Mid Season Tournament at Rancho Maria Golf Course on Oct. 2.
The Warriors’ second-place finish was a big achievement for the relatively inexperienced team. Only two players returned from last season. They added four new players, who were all seniors except for one.
Fouratt is the only freshman on the varsity team. Despite her youth, this 14-year-old earned the respect of her more experienced teammates early on.
“She’s an amazing golfer,” said Melissa Sobczak, one of the returning seniors. “She’s definitely going places.”
Fouratt started playing golf when she was 6 years old. Her first memories on the green were when she would watch her dad, David, play, and eventually she started practicing with him.
She took group lessons through the First Tee Junior Golf Program at Sunset Ridge Golf Center in Santa Maria, and later moved on to individual lessons.
Fouratt’s greatest golfing strength is her ability to stay calm before every shot.
“If I hit one bad shot, I wont get mad, because that energy will go to my next shot,” she said. “I think about what I did wrong and learn from it and forget about it.”
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2014.