By Ed Piper
"She's playing in that right now," said LJHS Athletic Director Aaron Quesnell Mon., Nov. 15, when he was contacted about Viking freshman Charlotte Cantonis's involvement in the CIF State girls golf finals, specifically the CIF-organized practice round the day before the tournament. It was midday on Monday.
"I'm driving up right now," said the former golf coach, as he neared LAX Airport off the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. "I'll be back at school late in the day Wed. (Nov. 17)."
What enables the 5'8" freshman to weather the notoriously torrid mental aspect of the links, while she is playing in a high-stakes match?
"I don't know," said Quesnell in all honesty. "She had some tough times during league this fall, and what she did was talk to (present Viking coach Christie) Quinn and work it out." Quesnell coached both girls and boys at LJHS until the COVID era. Quinn was his long-time assistant.
The mental pressure of golf has driven many--most?--of competitors to seek out mental coaches, which we used to call psychologists or "shrinks". One golfer who won the NCAA college title a handful of years ago refused to get a mental coach, and the last report was that he was struggling on the Canadian pro circuit, not really making the grade.
Cantonis placed seventh at the CIF Section championship, then fifth at the CIF Southern California Regionals competition last week. To do better at the higher level really says something. The last time La Jolla had a competitor in the Regionals or State competition is not known.
Charlotte's tee time Tuesday for the 18-hole State final is 10:20 a.m. She is playing with two other qualifiers, one from Steele Canyon locally. Her father and her coach, Quinn, accompanied her when she flew to Pebble Beach Sunday.
"She's pretty quiet," said Quesnell. "She was kind of embarrassed Friday (Nov. 12) when we introduced her at the football game (at La Jolla versus Valley Center). But she deserved it."
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