Course Correction

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The day before the City Section Golf Championships at Balboa on June 1, Palisades High sophomore Chloe Rahn played a practice round there under the watchful eye of her private coach and mapped out a hole-by-hole strategy.

She stuck to her plan and shot her lowest score ever—a 1-over par 74—to take second place, two strokes behind individual champion Kira Reisner of Granada Hills.

It was a remarkable effort by Rahn, who shaved 21 strokes off her total on the same course as a freshman in 2019. It also helped the Dolphins place second in the team standings—their highest finish since Palisades’ girls program was reinstated in 2014.

“It was all about course management and when I got there the morning of the finals I had all of the holes fresh in my mind, I  knew what direction to hit it and what club to use,” said Rahn, whose previous low in competition was an 80 last year. “I  shot +3 at Harding in Griffith Park in a practice round two weeks prior to City Finals and that was a confidence booster. I’ve been practicing a lot… four days a week with the team and also with my private coach. Rancho Park is my home course.”   

Rahn birdied No. 2, No. 6 and No. 11 to offset bogeys at No. 5 and No. 8 and a double bogey at No 14. She shot an even par 38 on the front nine and a 36 on the back.

“I went into it with a winning mindset and my goal was to hit the greens in regulation and two-putt,” said Rahn, who hit 13 greens in regulation. “Playing in the lead group helped me stay focused. The majority of my drives were in the fairway and my speed on the putts was pretty good.”     

Rahn’s reward is a trip to the Southern California Regionals on June 15 at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena, where she and the Dolphins will get to compete as a team for the first time.    

Another sophomore, Mandana Sahmedini, carded a 7-over par 80, Katie Kim shot an 80, Maya Otero and junior captain Jammy Cho fired 89s and Dylan Nuss shot a 93. The five lowest scores counted.

“It’s a miracle we even got to have a season,” Cho said. “There were ups and downs but I’ve lived through the stages of getting better.  Next season is our year to win it!”