2008 Woodie Awards
'Work hard, play hard' is motto of new coach
Isaac Esparza
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Sports
First-year LBCC women's golf coach Stacy Komai, has a "responsible, reliable and honest," group of women, which make up this year's golf team.
With only one returning member of last year's crew, Karen Griffith, Komai pledges to work with the remaining 10 women who are all first years or grey shirts; players not fully enrolled in LBCC, yet eligible to play.
"Every player is an asset to this team," Komai said. "Our team has a great core."
In addition to LBCC, Komai is also the men's golf head coach at El Camino.
Helping her out this year as assistant coach is Julie Piyavid, who is a United States Golf Association rules expert, someone who is familiar with all the regulations and guidelines of the sport. The first-year assistant received high praise.
"She has been invaluable to me in helping to put this team together," Komai said. "She is second to none."
The Vikings have top teaching professionals willing to help them during practice to improve their game. Practices are conducted throughout the week at Skylinks Golf Course and on the player's own time.
Due to the lack of schools in the area having women's golf programs, LBCC must often travel far for most of its competitions. Despite the travel, Komai sees an upside.
"The traveling is hard, but we are in a great league with some really good teams," she said. "The ladies use the time in the van to get to know each other better, so it all works out."
This year, there are only four schools participating in the Foothill Conference, including Mt. San Antonio, Desert and Palomar.
So far, LBCC has had trouble "winning the match at the end of the day," Komai said.
Three of the four league matches have been played and all have resulted in losses, with the best placing of second coming on Sept. 24 at the El Dorado Golf Course in Long Beach.
On Oct. 15, the Vikings team will play its final league match at San Luis Rey Downs Golf Course in Bonsall near San Diego.
With all the obstacles of distance, time, competition and new players challenging Komai, she has kept her optimism. "I have a great team and I think that we are off to a good start," she said.
And one thing she will be telling herself and her players as the season rolls on, is to "work hard, play hard, be honest and above all else, have fun."
With only one returning member of last year's crew, Karen Griffith, Komai pledges to work with the remaining 10 women who are all first years or grey shirts; players not fully enrolled in LBCC, yet eligible to play.
"Every player is an asset to this team," Komai said. "Our team has a great core."
In addition to LBCC, Komai is also the men's golf head coach at El Camino.
Helping her out this year as assistant coach is Julie Piyavid, who is a United States Golf Association rules expert, someone who is familiar with all the regulations and guidelines of the sport. The first-year assistant received high praise.
"She has been invaluable to me in helping to put this team together," Komai said. "She is second to none."
The Vikings have top teaching professionals willing to help them during practice to improve their game. Practices are conducted throughout the week at Skylinks Golf Course and on the player's own time.
Due to the lack of schools in the area having women's golf programs, LBCC must often travel far for most of its competitions. Despite the travel, Komai sees an upside.
"The traveling is hard, but we are in a great league with some really good teams," she said. "The ladies use the time in the van to get to know each other better, so it all works out."
This year, there are only four schools participating in the Foothill Conference, including Mt. San Antonio, Desert and Palomar.
So far, LBCC has had trouble "winning the match at the end of the day," Komai said.
Three of the four league matches have been played and all have resulted in losses, with the best placing of second coming on Sept. 24 at the El Dorado Golf Course in Long Beach.
On Oct. 15, the Vikings team will play its final league match at San Luis Rey Downs Golf Course in Bonsall near San Diego.
With all the obstacles of distance, time, competition and new players challenging Komai, she has kept her optimism. "I have a great team and I think that we are off to a good start," she said.
And one thing she will be telling herself and her players as the season rolls on, is to "work hard, play hard, be honest and above all else, have fun."
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