Female golfer helping lead OPHS boys' team back to prominence
With Kang in the mix, Eagles' depth is tough to match
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

Although the Oak Park High golf team hasn't won a TriValley League title in three years, head coach Bruce Beck believes the Eagles now have what it takes to return to the top.

Led by three sophomores and a freshman, OPHS has gotten off to a promising start this season.

"We don't have two or three superstars on this team, but we have a lot of depth," Beck said.

"With high school golf, you're only as good as your sixth golfer, and I believe that's where we distance ourselves from the rest of the pack."

Before Wednesday's match against West Ranch, the Eagles were 4-1 overall and 1-0 in league. Last week, at Olivas Park in Oxnard, OPHS won its first league match of the season by shooting a 410, good enough to beat Malibu High by 10 strokes.

On a day when seven schools were competing, Oak Park had five golfers finish in the top 10 and six in the top 14.

Oak Park's top golfer that day was sophomore Danielle Kang. OPHS does not have a girls' golf team, but it doesn't seem to matter- Kang is having no problem competing with anyone on the boys' level.

In the first TVL meet, she shot a 78, good for third place overall. Her average score of 80 is third lowest on the team. Kang is only 15 years old, but she's already qualified for the U.S. Women's Open.

"She's the best woman golfer in the region, and one of the best women golfers in the country," Beck said. "What's really impressive is that she's already driving the ball 250-260 yards."

Freshman Preston Walker said Kang is a standout on the links.

"It's kind of funny because she can out-drive most guys in this league," Walker said with a laugh. "Since she can do that, she's not one to mess with."

Just ahead of Kang is Walker, who's second on the Eagles with a 79.6 average score. Walker's specialty is his short game. The freshman has already medaled in tournaments at Chaminade and Burroughs.

"Justin proves that size doesn't matter in golf," Beck said. "When you see him for the first time, you think he's a seventhgrader. . . .

"But he's got a great approach to the game, and he's only going to get better as time goes by. Once he gains length in his driving game, he's going to be real special, because he already has a great short game," the coach said.

Two other sophomores that are contributing are Alex Ferman and Tyler Schwanz. Ferman ranks fourth on the team with an average of 81, while Schwanz is a stroke behind at 82. In the Eagles' match against Agoura earlier in the season, the two sophomores were co-medalists when they each shot a 79.

Schwanz said he started to improve his game when he landed a summer job with built-in perks.

"Last summer, I took a job at the Westlake Golf Course pro shop," Schwanz said. "I took it because I knew I would be able to practice on my game all the time by working there. I definitely had that in mind when I applied for the job."

Ferman has been impressed with the Eagles' overall improvement this season, but he is also really looking forward to the future, too.

"Not only are Kang, Schwanz and I still going to be here," Ferman said, "but you imagine how good Walker is going to be in two years and it becomes something to get real excited about."

Although the bulk of the team may be composed of underclassmen, the Eagles' best golfer to date is senior Ben Howard. In four matches, Howard is leading the squad with a 77.7 average. Howard won the New Jewish Community Tournament by shooting a 69.

"Howard has really improved his game- scoring-wise," Beck said. "There are still elements of his game he can improve a little bit, like course management, but that's something that's not uncommon for high school golfers. He's been a solid player for us."

Another senior that is contributing is Chris Tucker. Tucker is averaging an 84 this season.

"Tucker has come a long way," Beck said. "He's worked just as hard as anyone on his game, and he's improved enough to gain a shot at contributing for our program."

Juniors Austin Levine and Cody Petersen, as well as senior John Stilo, will all make an impact as the season progresses.

Oak Park may be winning on the golf course, but Beck said his primary objective is to make the Eagles winners off the golf course, too.

"Winning doesn't mean anything if it's empty," Beck said. "There's a big difference between winning and being a winner.

"Not too many of these golfers are going to go on and play professionally 10 years from now, but they're all going to be citizens 10 years from now."

The Eagles' next match is against Loyola High on March 31.