In 2023, the Islander girls’ golf team was one of the best in San Diego. They made a deep run in the CIF playoffs and had two individual stars in Bella Villarin and Ines Izuzquiza. They took down powerhouses Rancho Bernardo and Cathedral and finished near the top of the vaunted Western League.

However, this year’s team will look a bit different. With a senior-heavy team last season, there has been a large roster turnover for the Islanders. So much so that just two players from last year’s team will be back on the roster in 2024.

Four newcomers will also join the roster, all of whom have never played competitive golf before. The Islanders’ year of learning will be challenging, but Head Coach Stuart Gordon is ready to take on the task.

“The girls who are new have been working very hard. We’ve seen some good signs on the putting green, and the ball striking has gotten better on the driving range as the days have gone on,” said Gordon. “We’ve been focused on the little things like chipping and putting, so we are slowly building up. They can all hit the ball with decent carry. There aren’t many big misses, which is also encouraging. But still, there is a lot of stuff that we have to work on.”

With much of the roster being so young, Gordon will need big years out of his two returning players, Elleaire Lyons and Dhara Jost. The two juniors are the lone upperclassmen at the moment and will serve as captains this season for Coronado.

“Elleaire is gonna shoot in the high 30s or low 40s every match that she is in. She is a constant golfer,” noted Gordon. “Dhara Jost will be someone who I expect to always be around less than 45 in her matches. But it will be difficult to know until we are able to get on the course.”

For the Islander girls’ golf team, getting on the course right now has been an issue. With summer still underway, the Coronado Golf Course has been packed, making it nearly impossible for the team to get on the course.

“Unfortunately, Coronado is so packed at the moment we haven’t been able to get out on the course. It has usually been fully booked until six. So we have gotten a lot of work on the putting green and driving range.”

Coronado will need to get those on-course reps soon; with the season right around the corner, they’ll need to be ready to face the tough schedule ahead. Coronado will once again be back in the Western League, which features teams like Cathedral, Scripps Ranch, and OLP.

“The teams we play will be very strong and it will be tough. But I am going to encourage these girls. Helping them find confidence in themselves and their golf game is key,” noted Gordon. “We open with Rancho Bernardo and Cathedral back to back, so it will be a challenge right out of the gate.”

Coach Gordon and the girls’ golf team are still looking to take on new members. So, if your child or someone you know is looking to join the team this season, there is still time to sign up.

Gordon is happy to coach any player at any skill level. “If you’ve got golf clubs, you’re welcome to come and play. We’ll teach them how to play and help them to become better golfers.”