Pali High Girls Golfers Improving their Scores

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The third time was a charm for the Palisades High girls golf  team last Thursday at Penmar.

Using new clubs bought with donations by the Pali High Booster Club, the Golfin’ Dolphins shot a nine-hole total of 238 – their lowest score of the season – to place second in the third City 3 League match. Their previous best score was 252.

“I’m really proud of this group,” said Coach James Paleno, who reinstated the program last year. “They’re working really hard, even practicing and playing on the weekend, and their scores are dropping as a result.”

Junior Sophia Eberlein led the way, shooting an 11-over par 45 in her season debut. She finished seventh at League Finals last year.

“The new clubs made a huge difference and I’m really happy,” said Eberlein, who lives in the Village and also plays on the Pali High lacrosse team. “Driving is the strength of my game. My best score last year was 49 and all I used was a 7-iron and a pitching wedge.”

Venice shot 228 to win by 10 strokes and LACES was third at 278. The lowest any team shot in league last year was 248.

“It just shows you how much everyone’s improving – not just us,” Paleno said.

Junior Camila Paleno shot a 46, also her lowest score this year. 

“It’s never been a negative experience,” she said about being coached by her uncle. “I like playing [rounds] with my teammates because we’re more comfortable with each other.”

Izzy Simmons and Alegra Gurian each shot a 48 and Melanie Matayoshi rounded out the scoring with a 51.

Simmons, a senior and the team captain, was the impetus for getting the team started last year, pinning up flyers on campus and posting on Facebook encouraging classmates to try out, She wants to do all she can to help the team be successful before she graduates.

“I credit all of the girls – we’ve been working on our putting a lot and we’re already doing way better than last year,” Simmons said. “The boys  come out and help and they’ve been extremely humble and encouraging. They don’t treat it like a competition.”

Matayoshi, a freshman who was Palisades’ low scorer in this season’s first league match, started playing when she was 4 and honed her skills through the LA County Golf Academy.

“I was going to go to LACES but I’m glad I came here and I love the team,” she said.