Hawes a quick learner
SVHS golfer works hard, shoots low
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

Photo courtesy of Dan Hawes FINDING HER STROKE- Simi Valley High senior Amanda Hawes has developed into one of the county's finest golfers in a short time.

Amanda Hawes never picked up a golf club . . . until a week before she started high school.

Now Hawes is the best golfer in the Marmonte League and one of the finest in all of Ventura County.

A senior standout for the girls' golf team at Simi Valley High, Hawes was encouraged to give the sport a try from her sister, Christina Ball.

"I knew she could do it," said Ball, an assistant manager at Simi Hills Golf Course. "The golf coach at the time, Ty McDermott, asked me, 'So you have a younger sister; does she play golf?' I said, 'No, but I can get her to play.' She picked the game up right away."

Although the final two Marmonte League tournaments were canceled this week, Hawes will advance to the CIF-Southern Section individual tournament next Thursday at Alisal Ranch Golf Course in Solvang.

The Pioneers finished in third place in league and will advance to Monday's CIF-SS Northern Team Divisional at River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard at 8 a.m.

Hawes, 16, has worked on keeping her drives straight. Right now, everything seems to be working right, especially putting.

"My drives were better at the beginning of the season, and then my putting's gotten a lot better," Hawes said. "It's all around pretty good right now. My scores have been getting lower throughout the year."

Second-year head coach Charlie Alfonso credits Hawes, who doesn't have the most orthodox swing, with playing consistently no matter the conditions or course.

"Her consistency is unparalleled. That's the amazing thing about it. She doesn't seem to have off days," Alfonso said. "Without her, we wouldn't be in the place where we're at within in the league. At least for the last two years I've been coaching, she's inspired the other girls with her play."

Hawes started playing a week before high school, learning the basics at a clinic held at Simi Hills. Hawes and current teammate Taylene Shuster started playing at the same clinic a week before tryouts and have stuck with the game.

"She really gets after it," said Shuster, who has been close friends with Hawes since the sixth grade. "She can hit the ball really far."

Of course, Hawes didn't become a star overnight.

The senior works on her game constantly. Even after practice, she'll go home and either hit a bucket of balls or return to the course for another nine holes.

Hawes usually plays on weekends, and when practice was canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, she still went out to practice on her own.

"She still considers it fun," Ball said. "So many people are pressured into sports, but she enjoys the sport. She has a passion to be out on the golf course."

Hawes would like to attend Cal State Northridge and study education. Her sister, Cindy Ball, teaches and coaches softball at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento.

Hawes also tries to play golf at least twice a week with her father, Dan. Sometimes her brother, Danny, a sophomore at Simi Valley High, joins them.

Hawes was going to play basketball, practicing with the team the summer before high school, but ended up not playing so she could concentrate on golf. She's been getting better on the links every day. But there's always room to improve.

"I'm going to continue practicing, getting lessons and working on what I struggle with," Hawes said.