BY GLAE THIEN
CORONADO
Coronado High’s Crista Izuzquiza packed a tennis racket for her favorite sport when she moved from Spain eight years ago. On return visits to her homeland these days, though, she turns first to golf clubs.
Yes, the Islanders senior has become a golfer, one who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur tournament in the summer. Also, one who nearly advanced to the state high school championships last fall.
Moving to a golf hotbed like San Diego County obviously had an effect on Izuzquiza. So, too, did being surrounded by golfers in her family from her father to two young siblings.
“Golf is a hard game, and you have to practice a lot to be good at it,” Izuzquiza said. “I do enjoy meeting new people and having fun playing. I especially like hitting long drives.”
The 5-foot-5 Izuzquiza routinely blasts the ball up to 300 yards off the tee. She’s noted for a speedy swing that she attributes in part to her days wielding a tennis racket.
As a freshman, Izuzquiza played golf and tennis, but then she decided to forgo tennis for a simple reason.
“I was very bad. Tennis is a hard sport, and it’s very competitive,” said Izuzquiza, who also used to ski back in Spain. “I thought I’d be better at golf and have more potential for college.”
If her self-critique seems a bit harsh, just consider Izuzquiza determined.
“Crista’s very enthusiastic, and she practices hard,” Coronado coach Stuart Gordon said. “She expects a lot. In the first year, she’d get upset with herself when she didn’t make the shot she wanted to make. Over the years, she’s matured in that sense.”
Further experience has also come with her increased involvement in junior tournaments in recent years.
“I’ve improved by just thinking about the next shot and not letting the previous hole affect me,” Izuzquiza said. “Also, it’s staying focused throughout the whole tournament (or round).”
Izuzquiza qualified as a sophomore in a three-hole playoff at the San Diego Section golf championships for the final berth in the Southern California Regional tournament
Preceding last season’s section tourney, Izuzquiza claimed the City Conference championship by prevailing in the match-play final over Point Loma’s Mary Damien, who transferred to Coronado this year.
Izuzquiza tied for sixth place (3-over 147) in the section tournament at Admiral Baker South for a repeat regional spot. She then tied for sixth (74) at Brookside No. 1 in Pasadena, but missed out in six-way, four-hole playoff involving six golfers vying for five state berths.
“Of course, that just motivated me for this year to make it to state,” Izuzquiza said. “Last year, I was kind of nervous, playing against one of the top players in California. It could have worked out, but it didn’t.”
A greater experience came in the summer when Izuzquiza tied for third (73) at Saticoy in Ventura County to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Am. In the main tourney, she shot 161 over two rounds and missed the cut (147) at Old Waverly in West Point, Miss.
“It was exciting to play,” said Izuzquiza, who is considering her college options. “The qualifier had a really tough field, I played against Division I college girls for the first time, and everything worked out that day. In the (main) tournament, I didn’t make the cut, so that wasn’t what I wanted, but I certainly did learn from it.”
Now Izuzquiza looks forward to a strong farewell to prep golf with the road to a possible state berth starting with the section tourney Nov. 4 and 6 at Admiral Baker South.
“I just hope for a great rest of the year with my team,” Izuzquiza said, “and that everything comes together for me.”
Swinging her clubs, not a racket.
Thien is a freelance writer.