GIRLS GOLF: M-A's Fang Stars In PAL Match With San Mateo And Aragon

The Star: Menlo-Atherton's Xin Fang easily took medalist honors in the three-team competition with San Mateo and Aragon on Wednesday. The sophomore fired a four-over-par 40 in the Peninsula Athletic League competition at Poplar Creek Golf Course in San Mateo.

The Turning Point: Fang essentially lapped the field, finishing seven strokes better than her nearest competitor -- San Mateo's Diana Brewer. Aragon (275 strokes), the PAL defending champion, showcased its depth in winning the team competition.

The Quote: "Today's kind of a day to see where these teams pan out. We'll see."  -- Aragon coach Guy Oling, before the three-team match.

What's Next? Five more weeks of regular-season competition. The PAL Championships are scheduled for Oct. 26 at Poplar Creek.

Bottom Line: Fang was one of the PAL's top golfers as a freshman and is gunning to win the league's individual championship this year. Aragon showed it has the talent to repeat as team champion. And San Mateo, which started five Foster City residents on Wednesday, looks to be on the climb – five of its top players are underclassmen.

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For one pristine afternoon at Poplar Creek Golf Course, the Peninsula Athletic League girls golf scene appeared quite similar to where things left off a year ago.

Aragon High, the PAL's defending champion, totaled 275 strokes on the front nine on Wednesday to distance itself from San Mateo (282) and Menlo-Atherton (288) in the three-team competition.

M-A sophomore Xin Fang, among the league's top three players as a freshman, showed she has the ability to challenge for the PAL individual title. In Wednesday's competition, she fired a four-over-par 40 to take medalist honors by seven strokes.

And San Mateo continued its development, finishing second to the Dons with a youthful lineup that included the runner-up individual. Sophomore Diana Brewer, one of five Foster City players on the team, shot a 48.

M-A's Fang was pleased with her putting but critical of her drives and iron play – a reversal of two earlier rounds that had generated similar scores.

Asked what lessons she took from an impressive freshman campaign, the sophomore said: "Maybe concentrate more. Don't rush every shot – just take your time."

Brewer, who joined Aragon senior Gina Hazelton and Fang in the lead group, was impressed with Fang's showing.

"I've never played with someone that's shot 40 before," said Brewer, who has moved to the front of the Bearcats' lineup after playing in the No. 2 slot as a freshman.

Brewer and her coach, Jimmy Ikeda, were pleased with San Mateo's outlook for this season and especially for the future.

"It's good. The scoring is going to get better," Brewer said. "And we have a freshman playing at No. 2."

That player, Kristin Kanaya, shot a 57 on Wednesday. Christine Shieh (55), Michelle Wong (58) and Karen Wu (63) completed San Mateo's scoring.

"Every year we seem to be getting better," Ikeda said. "It's looking promising."

M-A freshman Tiffany Yang (49) posted the third-best score of the day in her second career competition, but left the course feeling she should have done much better.

"When I was playing for fun, there wasn't as much stress," Yang said. "The fact that there's something you want to achieve, that makes it more important."

Aragon's Hazelton and Erin Sullivan both carded a 50, and teammate Cheena Sakona (51) was right on their heels.

M-A senior Kendall Mongrid shot a 60, her team's third-best score of the day.