Sobrato sophomore ties for sixth place
SAN JOSE
Jordan Maharaj’s dedication to golf can be summed up by the 20 strokes she shaved off her average during the past year, or by just her postmatch conversions with swing coach Don Leone.
Maharaj, a Sobrato High sophomore, has been known to get emotional.
“Usually, she calls me crying after a round because she was so frustrated,” Leone said. “She struggles with something, but then she goes out the next day and fixes it. She’s that kind of hard worker.”
With her headstrong play and acquired short-term memory, Maharaj looked very unsophomoric Wednesday in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Finals Individual Championship at Coyote Creek Golf Club. She overcame an early stumble on the Valley Course to tie for sixth place at 10-over-par 82 and qualify for next week’s Central Coast Section Tournament in Carmel.
Maharaj carded a double-bogey on the par-3 No. 4, her seventh hole of the day, but recovered quickly, reaping confidence with her improved drives.
“Sometimes, I don’t get to the pin like I want to, but it usually ends up OK,” she said. “One bad hole doesn’t affect me too much. It’s just one hole.”
Maharaj birdied the par-3 16th — and nearly had an ace. Her tee shot landed just beyond the hole, leaving her with a 3-foot putt.
There were no tears after this round.
“What a day,” Leone said. “This is the round she’s going to learn a lot about herself from. She’s progressed so rapidly and so soon.”
Maharaj, a Coyote Creek regular, played the Valley Course the day before and shot 85. She will have a similar edge Tuesday at Rancho Canada Golf Club, a course she has played several times on youth tours.
“It’s an advantage when you now where to go and how the slope is. It helps you hit the ball better,” said Maharaj, whose one goal this fall was to qualify for the CCS Tournament. “I feel really good going in.”
Two holes ahead of Maharaj, senior Paige Flores was enjoying a solid round she thought was going to be her last with Live Oak High School. Flores entered the tournament “not even considering CCS” but came away with an 87 that rounded out the cutoff for Tuesday’s field.
“Paige had some amazing putts today,” Live Oak girls golf coach Mike Rubino said.
The biggest was a 5-footer Flores buried on her final hole, the par-5 15th, to seal the deal.
“I didn’t stay calm. I was freaking out the whole time,” she said. “But I just sunk it. It was awesome. Now, I get to golf one more time Tuesday and have fun. I’m going to enjoy it.”
It marks a fitting end to a solid prep career for Flores, who narrowly missed her goal of qualifying for CCS finals as a junior and sophomore.
She wouldn’t have changed a thing.
“It’s great I didn’t do it in my previous years. It built up the excitement for senior year,” Flores said. “It’s great to have this happen for the first time in my senior year. It’s a great feeling.”
Live Oak junior Jennifer Schwegler also was in the field Wednesday and carded a 98.
