By Ian Rapoport
Staff Writer
It isn’t often that a high school team gets the opportunity to play alongside a nationally-ranked player. Freshman Andrea Lee brought her many years of talent and experience to the Costa’s girls golf team.
Lee’s outstanding performances are a result of years of training. She started playing golf at age five with the support of her father, and by age eight, she had already begun competing in tournaments.
“My dad wanted me to try golf so that I could do something with him during the weekends,” Lee said. “It was fun, but I started beating him when I was eight years old, so he quit.”
The Mustangs have performed well in Bay League this year, which is a result of skilled individuals such as Lee. She is currently ranked second in California and seventh nationally.
“Knowing how well fellow teammates perform helps players to achieve the best that they can,” coach Tim Kelley said. “Players push each other, and everything is made to be that much more supportive.”
Like many young athletes, Lee admires several professionals as her own personal influences. One of her favorite golfers is Tiger Woods because of his immense talent. However, Lee’s greatest inspirations are her parents because of the constant motivation and support they provide.
“My parents are always supporting me around every turn,” Lee said. “They want me to do really well, and they’ve always been there for me.”
Lee has been working diligently to improve her skills by competing in an average of 10 tournaments a year. She has had to sacrifice much for golf but believes it is more than worth it.
“Golfing is basically my life,” Lee said. “I don’t really have time for anything else. I don’t think of it as a bad thing, though, because I really enjoy it and will do it for the rest of my life.”
Golfing has taken Lee to many exciting places and has given her the opportunity to compete against people from around the world. It has not only taken her across the country, but also to foreign countries, such as the United Kingdom.
“It is tiring, but it’s a lot of fun to move around,” Lee said. “I’ve met a lot of interesting people around the country, and I’ve become really close friends with them.”
Competing as a Mustang has helped Lee improve her game and has benefited the team as well.
“She is a really great teammate,” junior golfer Jenny Johnson said. “She works really hard and helps her teammates to do the best they can all the time.”
Lee’s ambitions extend from college to the professional league. She hopes that one day she will be able to play in the NCAA and later on to have a career as a professional golfer.
“I think I want to stay in California,” Lee said. “Maybe go to Stanford, UCLA or USC,”
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