The Birmingham Patriots’ athletic skills progress as they swing into a whole new golf season.

“Two weeks ago, Astrid shot the best score from about 40 golfers,” Coach Kevin Kelly said. “This was a thrilling development as she had never held a golf club before last year.”

This is Kelly’s 12th year coaching the team. The coaching methods of Kelly, coupled with the girls’ desire to improve, has allowed the team to steadily polish their performance.

The Birmingham Community Charter High School girls golf team endures extensive practice, training three times a week at the driving range and putting green.

“When I’m at Van Nuys golf course I focus on my swing,” senior Maria Danon said. “Since there are different kinds of golf clubs, I have to adjust how I swing each one of them.”

  Unlike other sports teams, members of the golf team compete individually. The girls are placed with students from other schools to compete against each other. On Oct. 5, however, the Patriots placed first, competing against five teams in the league. As each player is scored individually, no participant truly loses.

With two more weeks left of golf season, the Patriots give it their all. Juniors Astrid Cabrera, Lauryn Uhlenberg and Bella Feinstein of Daniel Pearl Magnet High School are currently on the team. This is senior Maria Danan’s final year on the team.

“I think my team will do good in the upcoming game because we always give our best,” Danan said.

Throughout the season the golf team will be matched against various schools such as El Camino Real High School and Sylmar High School. Matches are scheduled for every Thursday with the next match scheduled for Oct.19 with the last match played on Oct. 26.