Girls Golf Swings Into CIF

Noah Vaidyan • January 1 , 2026

This season marked a breakout year for the Peninsula girls varsity golf team. After an undefeated season, going 13-0, the team got selected to participate in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the highest level for organized high school sports in the state. The players exhibited teamwork and commitment throughout their journey to CIF and were led by a passionate and successful coach. Head coach and math teacher Glenn Van Enk shared the joy he finds in coaching and seeing the team’s successes.

“I’ve been doing it for about 24 years, and it's been really fun working with kids and seeing them get better over a season and over their four-year career,” Van Enk said. “We have had success with our girls and boys, but especially with the girls early on. We have done a handful of state championships, many league titles and have participated in the playoffs most years. To see the success in these kids is the best part of coaching.”

One of the key leaders on the team, senior and co-captain Sophia Lu, has demonstrated exceptional individual success throughout her competitive golf career. She was one of six juniors to be named a Rolex Junior All-America and Rolex Scholastic Junior All-America honoree in 2025 by the America Junior Golf Association sponsored by Rolex. The Rolex Junior All-America Honors recognition focuses on athletic performance, primarily based on player rankings, while the Rolex Scholastic Junior All-America honors combines athletic performance and academic success to determine honorees. She has also been selected to participate in the Tiger Woods Junior Invitational where she was a finalist for the Girls 13-15 Division. Lu shared her origins of engaging in the sport golf and her love for her team.

“I started playing golf when I was seven years old, along with a handful of other sports,” Lu said. “Soon enough I was competing in a top junior circuit in Southern California called the Toyota Tour Cup. Along with that, I also started playing at the national level where I won two major tournaments, including the FM Junior Championship this past summer. Here at Peninsula High School, I joined the varsity team as a freshman and have been part of a group [of golfers] who work tremendously hard and push others.”

Another key leader behind this team’s success is senior and co-captain Hannah Morgan. Morgan first discovered her love of golf from her father. When she was a child, she would watch him hit plastic golf balls around their yard. One day her dad let her have a try. Soon after that, she was forever hooked on golf. While Morgan values coaching and teamwork, she also recognizes the challenges that come with balancing her academic life and her athletic life. Morgan shared how she manages to balance being a strong leader for her team while still maintaining excellent grades.

“Balancing academics and athletics is definitely tough, especially in golf,” Morgan said. “Practice can take up to three hours and tournaments are even longer. Staying organized, setting priorities and managing your time well is crucial. Never be afraid to ask for help. If you need things like extra time for school work, talk to your teachers. Golf is a huge time commitment but with good time management skills, it can be done.”

Ultimately, the varsity girls' golf team has been able to win consistently throughout the season due to their dedication to the game, both on and off the course. Team captains Morgan and Lu have set an example for the rest of the team through their exceptional work ethic, despite hours of additional practice, their focus on important factors such as nutrition and teamwork and their ability to balance both school and golf as student-athletes. With the most recent CIF selection, a passionate coach and two successful leaders in Lu and Morgan this program has a bright future ahead.