Westlake standout Diaz-Yi competes in second straight state golf tourney




Westlake High sophomore Lauren Diaz-Yi shot a 6-over-par 80 Tuesday at the Girls’ Golf State Championships at Red Hill Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga.

Diaz-Yi, who was making her second straight appearance at the state tournament, finished tied for 15th place.

“My long game was good,” Diaz-Yi said. “But my short game was kind of struggling, mainly in the chipping area.”

The Warrior sharpshooter said reading the putting greens at Red Hill was tough all day. Striking close-range shots off the course’s Bermuda grass also posed a major challenge.

“I was definitely over-reading my putts,” she said. “I didn’t have the right speed on some of them. But the main problem was chipping from the rough. It was very difficult.”

According to WHS head coach Dave Costley, Diaz-Yi is the first female golfer in school history to qualify for state.

As a freshman, Diaz-Yi tied for third at state while playing at Poppy Hills.

Now that she’s been to the top California high school golf tournament in successive seasons, Diaz-Yi wants to go back a few more times before she graduates.

“I want to make it all four years to the state final,” she said. “If I just keep working on my game and focus, I should be able to do it.”

— Stephen Dorman



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