Auburn Mountainview girls golf sets new school record

As a newer school, Auburn Mountainview has plenty of records to set and then break. On the golf course, the Lions did just that.

A team of six golfers set an all-time school record, breaking 100 for the first time ever in Auburn Mountainview history.

“When you roll out five golfers that really don’t need your help other than help on the mental side of things… We don’t talk about golf swings. They are good enough where they know what they are doing,” said Head Coach and Mountainview Athletic Director Chris Carr.

In a match against Auburn on Sept. 12, the Lions shot a team score of 102, beating their previous record of 98 back in 2021.

“I didn’t realize when they did it if they have ever broken 100 before. Then I went back and I was like ‘Holy smokes!’ That is quite the record,” Carr said.

The Lions were led by Esther Yu, a sophomore who already has her name riddled in the record books. Yu shot one under on the front nine at the Auburn Golf Course and a total of 28.

Points are scored in girls golf as follows: One point for a double bogey, two points for a bogey, three for a par, four for a birdie and five for an eagle.

Of Yu’s 28 points, five came on an eagle on the ninth hole at the Auburn Golf Course. She had just one bogey on the day, paired with six pars and one birdie. Carr doesn’t give much advice to Yu, but one piece of knowledge he left her with was don’t force a birdie.

“Just think par and you’re going to run into birdies. Quite trying to ram the birdie putt and then you are eight feet past the hole and miss the comebacker for par and you got a bogey,” Carr said.

Yu finished tied for eighth as a freshman at state last year and Carr believes she can be one of, if not the best golfer to wear the blue and orange polo.

The 102 wasn’t all Yu. The Ta’amu sisters both chipped in for solid scores. Junior Malina and freshman Janiece both scored 22 points. Malina finished 43rd in state, and with her sister now on the team, they are pushing each other to new heights.

“They are both pretty good golfers. Having Janiece on the team, keeps Malina on her toes. They are great kids and that sibling rivalry keeps them pushing hard,” Carr said.

Not only do the Ta’amu siblings push each other, but they also push Yu. Carr has seen his golf team develop from just a team to a program.

“This is the first year that we will bring five golfers to districts that I think can hold their own and don’t need any luck to get by,” said Carr.

Arguably the most improved player on this roster is Tahlua Laakso for the Lions. She was on the verge of not golfing last year, but in the offseason, she put in a ton of work and is showing that progress. Laakso scored 13 along with the lone senior Sophia Pham, who scored 14.

“Sophia could be scoring in the 20s. But Tahlua has come the farthest in two years… To see her improvement in two years, has been the biggest and most pleasant surprise to watch her evolve as a golfer,” Carr said.

At the tail end of the scorecard was sophomore Gracie Meier, whose three points broke the 100-point total.

The Lions have state championship aspirations and have a good test ahead of them with White River on Sept. 24 and Sept. 26. The Hornets won state last year at the 2A level, and if the Lions want to get there, they will see what it takes against the Hornets next week.

“There is no guarantee that we are the odds-on favorite in the 3A NPSL. That is needed by all of our kids,” Carr said.