November 19, 2009
Poppy Hills GC

Tournament Information
Scorecards – Individual
Scorecards -Team

Five questions with individual champion Jenny Shin

PEBBLE BEACH – A Torrance juggernaut blew through Poppy Hills Thursday afternoon.

For the third year in a row and the fourth time in five years, the south Los Angeles High School is bringing the CGA/CIF Girls California State Championship trophy home. Despite losing two of its top players and the head coach a year ago, co-coaches Devin Kushi and Cean Geronimo perpetuated a tradition that is hard for the rest of the state to overcome. Led by senior Jenny Shin’s one-under 71 and Anne Cheng’s 76, the team posted a five-stroke win over runner-up Torrey Pines and 20 strokes over third place Granada.

“It has been a wonderful run,” Kushi said. “We’ve been blessed to have so many talented players. (Co-coach) Cean has really helped  sustain the level of excellence. Kushi has been with the program since 2000 and assumed head coaching duties this year, bringing in former UC Irvine player Geronimo to help with the players’ games.  Geronimo, who will be pursuing a professional career in 2010, was fulfilled by the job: “It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. These girls were like sponges.” As impressive as the championship run is, a nearly 10-year undefeated streak in dual matches is even more testament to the public school’s depth. 

Shin’s 71 left her in a familiar place in the race for the individual title – first place for the second year in a row. Like many of the competitors on the 6,066-yard Poppy Hills, the 2006 U.S. Junior Girls’ champion struggled on the greens. “”I had trouble with downhill putts today, I missed a lot of five footers,” the 17-year-old senior said. “I’m not quite happy with what I shot, but I haven’t seen a lot of low scores at Poppy so I thought that anything under par might win.”

The event marked the last tournament as an amateur for Shin, who has already qualified for the Futures Tour and will embark on a professional career in 2010.

In the tournament’s now six-year history, no Northern California team has come out on top. In Torrance’s five-year streak, the only year the team didn’t win, it finished second. “I hope that tradition continues,” Shin said.

Champions Torrance High School

Runners-Up Torrey Pines High School

Individual winners – champion Jenny Shin, runner-up Rachel Morris, third place – Devon Brown, fourth – Lauren Diaz-Yi, fifth – Grace Na, sixth - Marguerite Swearingen and Taylor Camany.

Team Results

Individual Results