Lincoln, Lodi youngsters are precocious golf talents

Posted Sep. 15, 2015 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 15, 2015 at 10:53 PM

WOODBRIDGE — Jackie Schmidt, Sofia Demski and Madeline Zunino can’t legally drive a car by themselves yet.
Their capability with their drivers, though, is something to behold.
The three sophomore golfers have made the Lincoln and Lodi girls teams formidable.
The Flames’ Demski and Schmidt, both 15, met each other playing at Woodbridge Golf and Country Club. And that’s where Lodi hosted Lincoln in a Tri-City Athletic League match Tuesday, as the Trojans won 249-254 on a day of strange weather and relatively high scores.
Demski, who’s been playing since age 9, saw her father play with his friends and was interested in trying.
It’s worked out, and in incredible fashion. As a freshman, Demski shot an 80 to win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I South tournament at Woodbridge. Lodi was an unexpected power featuring the two freshmen last year, but now, their opponents know what’s coming.
“Everyone thinks we’re seniors, and we’re not. We have a lot of fun going against more competitive teams, because it gives us more of a challenge,” Demski said. “There’s not so much pressure, more of just excitement.
“People know who we are.”
Schmidt is the defending TCAL individual medalist, yet has been playing three years to Demski’s six. Demski carded a team-best 4-over par 41 Tuesday, while Schmidt turned in a 45, good for fourth place.
Lincoln freshman Anitra Khoth was the top individual, registering a 40. It’s been a solid week for Khoth, who ended fourth in Hilmar’s Yellowjacket Invitational, a 15-team affair Monday at Micke Grove Golf Links. That day, though, belonged to the 14-year-old Zunino. She shot an exceptional 1-under par 71, and posted a lifetime-best six birdies in one day.
“It was amazing. Six birdies was awesome,” said Zunino, who was third at 43 Tuesday. “Obviously, I didn’t play my best today. But that’s going to happen.”
Zunino doesn’t have a family history of golf. She was simply watching the sport on TV with her grandpa a few years ago, and decided she’d have a go of it.
And despite her age, she’s embraced a mature approach to what can be a mentally and emotionally trying sport.
“The hardest part is your mental game. If you don’t have that jam-packed, then your golf game is no good,” Zunino said. “It’s just a ball and a stick. And your state of mind has to be there.”
Despite their early successes, Zunino, Demski and Schmidt all have loftier aspirations. None of them qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation NorCal or state finals in 2014.
Lodi wants to advance as a team first and foremost, coach Tara Staal said, but she knows her sophomores’ talents are rare.
“I guess we have some big shoes to fill,” Staal said, on following up last fall’s run. “Especially my top two being sophomores, and just trying to get some girls in to round out the rest of the scores.”
“We always, No. 1, try to reach (NorCals) as a team. If we don’t make it as a team, Jackie and Sofia have a really good chance of making it as individuals.”
The last time the Flames made the NorCal finals was in 2012, when it was hosted by Brookside in Stockton and Lodi finished eighth.