The shot heard 'round Royal

SWEET SWING-Royal High golfer Cassie Simon works on her swing during a recent practice session. Simon, the Highlanders' No. 1 girls' golfer, also plays guitar, sings and writes her own songs. This past week Royal High's girls' golf coach Bob Misko gave senior Cassie Simon the nickname "Uno."

The nickname could be hers for a couple of reasons. Simon is the No. 1 golfer on the Highlanders girls' team, and she recently became the first woman golfer in the history of RHS to receive the athlete of the week award.

The most likely reason, however, is a certain shot last week on the 8th hole at Los Robles Golf Course.

Simon used her 8-iron on the 8th hole to hit a shot just right of the green, toward a large hill. The ball struck the hill and then slowly rolled down to the left, toward the hole on the green, finally disappearing into the cup, giving Simon the first hole in one of her short golfing career.

"At that point, I was just trying to get a birdie because I was struggling that day," Simon said. "It was a very pure swing for me and went to the right side of the green on a hill and rolled in. I met my teammate Jenna Fischer after we saw it go in and we just went crazy."

Cassie Simon Misko said he heard about Simon's hole in one while standing on the 5th green.

"I got a call on my cellphone," Misko said. "I've never been to one, but on the other end of the line it sounded like what I think a rave would sound like.

"I couldn't even tell who was calling. All I heard was 'Blah blah blah, hole in one! Blah blah blah, oh my God! Hole in one!' I finally found out it was Jenna telling me that Cassie had gotten a hole in one on the 8th."

Simon got into golf five years ago thanks to her grandfather, Joe Simon, who played professionally many years ago. Joe Simon now lives in Idaho and Cassie called him as soon as she finished the course following her ace.

"I called him up immediately and told him what I did," Simon said. "He said that he has three or four (holes in one) under his belt so I have some catching up to do."

Not only has Simon gotten tutelage from her grandfather, but also her brother, Joey, who played golf at Royal.

Joey "has been a big influence on me," Simon said. "He is good at golf, and we get competitive while playing. We're not throwing golf clubs at each other or anything, at least not yet, but it's good for both of us. Sometimes I beat him by a stroke and sometimes he beats me. It's very good practice."

Cassie followed her brother's example at RHS by joining the golf team as a freshman.

According to Misko, Simon was the No. 4 or No. 5 golfer on the team that year, but just to make the varsity team as a freshman was rare.

She played her sophomore year before deciding to quit her junior year to focus on some tough classes that she said she needed to do well in to go to a good college. After a year away from the sport, Simon got the itch to play again.

"It was about two days before school started this year when I received a phone call while throwing a barbecue at my house," Misko said. "Someone told me Cathy Simon had called, but I didn't know a Cathy. I called back with my fingers crossed, hoping that it was possibly Cassie Simon wanting to come back and play and thankfully it was."

Since then, Simon has led the Highlanders to one of their best season in the school's history. The team was in third place prior to the final league tournament, where they finished fifth.

"What stands out with her is her enthusiasm," Misko said. "The spirit she brings to this team just bubbles over and has an effect on the rest of the team. I think the year she was away she really missed the game because her leadership is tremendous. She gives all the pep talks on Fridays and it really helps me out as a coach."

When Simon isn't making noise with her golf clubs, there is a good chance she is making noise with her guitar.

Simon has played the guitar for four years and previously played bass in a local band called Luckdown. Simon has just finished a five-song EP; she wrote all of the songs. Her brother also plays guitar and piano on the album. Simon is looking for a label to support the album, but she said it contains no songs or lyrics about what she does on the links.

"The songs are mostly about what happens in my life outside the golf course," Simon said. "Relationships with boys and other personal experiences."

On Wednesday, Simon played in her last tournament as a Highlander, when Royal concluded the regular season at the Marmonte League Tournament in Westlake. She finished in the top 12.

"It's pretty sad because I'll never play for Royal again," Simon said. "But I think there is no doubt that this team is going to continue to be good next year as all the girls on this team are great."