It’s a tough moniker to spell, but Alyaa Abdulghany is quickly making a name for herself in the world of golf.
The senior at Corona del Mar High has established herself as perhaps the best high school girls’ golfer in county history. Last year she became the first Orange County player to win the girls CIF State Championship, and she won by setting a women’s course record at Poppy Hills with a 2-under-par 69.
But her reputation is growing, and she made a good first impression on the national and international scene when she helped the United States defeat Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup in late September in suburban Minneapolis. Abdulghany teamed with Norman Xiong to win a mixed four-ball match, 5 and 4, and then won her singles match over Europe’s Julia Engstrom, 3 and 1.
“It’s such a wonderful honor,” Abdulghany said about her overall experience. “I’m so proud to say that USA did retain the Cup.”
A couple weeks later, Abdulghany won the first California Women’s State Open, held at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon. At the event, put on by the Southern California PGA, she shot 65-69 to win the tournament over a field of professionals that included former LPGA star Liselotte Neumann.
That’s something to remember, for sure, but her top memory from this year was meeting the pros that played or coached at the Ryder Cup, such as Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, Patrick Reed, Darren Clarke and Davis Love III. She also spoke with Nick Faldo and Corey Pavin, who invited her to play in tournaments they host.
“Having these types of connections with the greatest golfers out there is so beneficial and really an unforgettable moment,” she said.
Abdulghany earned her place on the 12-player Junior Ryder Cup roster when she posted a 5-under-par 208 to finish second in the Junior PGA Championship in Rumford, R.I. That result ended what she called a stressful qualifying process that required her to be organized so she could keep up with her schoolwork.
She often asked teachers if she could work ahead in class and turn assignments in early before she left to play in a tournament.
“I did whatever worked for the teacher. It was very tedious,” Abdulghany said. “But it all paid off in the end, so I am very happy.”
She has more than her Ryder Cup and Women’s State Open performances to be pleased about. On Sept. 11, she won the SCPGA Corey Pavin Invitational, shooting a 7-under-par 209 in the junior tour event on the Celebrity Course at Indian Wells Golf Resort. And she also set a course and school record with an 8-under-par 28 on the front nine at El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Niguel during a recent match for the Sea Kings.
Abdulghany seems poised to join Sharon Barrett (Monte Vista) and Jenny Shin (Torrance) as the only girls to defend a CIF state title. But her focus is on getting her game in shape to play for USC next fall.
“She has this insight to know what she has to do to be successful,” said Corona del Mar girls golf coach Mike Starkweather. “Her shotmaking and shot selection is just unbelievable. She has it.”
