Alyaa Abdulghany is certain that someone will eclipse the course record she set in November at Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach. But no matter the score, no one can take the Corona del Mar junior’s place in golf history.
The CIF has held a girls state championship off and on since 1977, and until this fall a winner hadn’t come from Orange County. In her first appearance in the tournament, Abdulghany posted a 2-under-par 69 for a two-stroke victory. Her round was the lowest by a woman at Poppy Hills, surpassing the old record by three strokes. Abdulghany’s 69 equaled the second-lowest score in the state tournament, which has been held 18 times, and she was the only girl this year to finish under par.
To commemorate her historic score, she signed a scorecard and pin flag that will be framed and hung in the Northern California Golf Association offices at Pebble Beach.
“It is pretty cool, honestly, to be the first girl from Orange County to win it,” said Abdulghany, who is committed to USC. “I am honored and humbled.”
What makes Abdulghany’s season even more impressive was her consistency. Starting with her triumph in the Pacific Coast League championships in October, six of her seven postseason rounds ended in the 60s, giving her a 69.14 scoring average and a cumulative score of 19 under par.
Her worst performance during that span was an even-par 71 at Goose Creek Golf Club to claim sixth place in the WSCGA Southern State Regional. It was the only time she didn’t finish in the top three in the postseason. In addition to winning state, Abdulghany finished third at the CIF-SS Individual Championship, second at the CIF-SS Southern Individual Regional and earned medalist honors at the CIF-SS Southern Team Regional in which she helped the Sea Kings finish second.
“To see her consistency off the tee, it is unbelievably great,” said Corona del Mar coach Mike Starkweather. “It’s great to see the work that she has put in pay off for her.”
In December, Abdulghany was eighth in the Golfweek junior girls national Sagarin rankings, and she traveled to Canada and Germany to represent the U.S. in tournaments. She was one of three girls chosen by the USGA to play for the U.S. at the World Junior Girls Championship in Kanata, Ontario, Canada, where she tied for 12th. The following week she traveled to Sporting Club Berlin and tied for second in the Faldo Series Grand Final, hosted by Nick Faldo.
“The thing I am proud of the most this year is my progression from freshman year and sophomore year,” she said. “I have gotten a lot better. My game has improved, and I am more consistent. Even if wouldn’t have won state, I would have still been happy.”
