Lineup in question, but talent returns

Golf, at least at the high school level, can actually employ team strategy to win matches.

Porterville girls golf coach David Herrera goes beyond taking each individual score at face value and chooses to strategically place his players in spots one through six.

On most teams, the No. 1 spot belongs to the team’s best golfer, No. 2 is second best and so on. But for these Panthers, it’s all about the comfort zone.

“Some girls feel comfortable about playing in certain spots,” Herrera said. “For example, Jacqulyn (Forrester) is one of our best players but she doesn’t prefer to play 1 or 2, so we put her in 3 or 4.”

Forrester is capable of driving the ball well beyond the 200-yard mark but Herrera believes the returning junior thrives in a more relaxed environment where she can dominate out of the second pair.

“It depends on who it is and their personality,” said Mina Hassanshahi, a returning junior. “Even if some girls are No. 1 on other teams, they don’t wanna play with the pressure.”

Herrera spent last season deriving each player’s level, rotating the top six “nearly every week,” he says. And since the third-year coach will have seven girls returning with a new freshman in the mix, Herrera hopes he can do less lineup tinkering and focus more on the basics.

“For most of them, it was their first year last season — even if they were sophomores or juniors,” Herrera said. “They’ll always have stuff to work on, but it’s a lot easier than last year.”

Hassanshahi was placed No. 1 on the team for all but one tournament as a sophomore last year. Though she doesn’t hit the long ball like Forrester or sophomore Summer Davis, Hassanshahi’s strengths lie in consistency and the short game.

And, of course, dealing with the other team’s best.

“I think it just makes you stronger,” Hassanshahi said. “When I’m playing with the other No. 1 players, I can see what they do that makes them the No. 1 player.”

Though Herrera would say Hassanshahi has few weaknesses, the junior out of Orange County would contest otherwise.

“I’ve been coming out here over the summer and when we started practicing again, he noticed my swing had completely changed,” Hassanshahi said. “He’s like, ‘What’s wrong with your swing?’ and it was hard getting my motivation back.

“It made me upset so I worked on it and I have my swing back,” she added.

As a whole, Herrera said the team’s focus is on developing consistency.

“Sometimes they’ll hit a beautiful shot,” Herrera said, “and then they’ll hit it five feet.”

Herrera thinks sophomore Loren Minter made the most strides this summer in that department, having played in several tournaments and returning to school a new player ready for a breakout season.

“Loren played (number) 5 or 6 last year,” he said. “I think she might shock some people this year. She should have some real low scores.”

Even freshman Cassandra Garfield is a threat to take one of the starting spots in her first season.

“Cassandra’s hitting really well and she’s intimidating,” Herrera said. “It’s hard to get some girls to come out and stay in the program their first year, so it’ll be nice to have her for the next four years.”

With the experience of three seniors — Janet Rodriguez, Dedra Devine and Ana Torres — anchoring the team, the Panthers are poised to improve on last year’s 8-6 record and fourth-place finish at the EYL tournament.

“These girls are dedicated,” Herrera said. “I know we’ll improve our scores.”

Added Hassanshahi: “We can only get better.”

Familiar Faces

Sextet hopes to improve on middle-of-the-pack finish

2008 Record: 8-6 EYL, 4th in EYL tourney

Playoffs: N/A

Top Returners: Jr. Mina Hassanshahi, jr. Jacqulyn

Forrester, soph. Summer Davis, sr. Janet Rodriguez

Key Newcomers: Cassandra Garfield

Departures: None

Breakout Player: Soph. Loren Minter