Junior Golf - Tiffany Dong & Ashley Noda

In my own daily life, positive and/or negative stress depends on whether or not my day seems manageable, and if I can perform at my own desired level throughout the day. Mostly the adventures of my day produce a pleasant experience. But I had to wonder if the stress on a local high school athlete felt the same. My assumptions regarding stress on one Sacramento athlete was completely wrong.

 

It's 6 AM and the day starts for our local athlete, Tiffany Dong. Tiffany is a senior at St. Francis and participates on the girl's golf team. Tiffany's interest in golf started in 4th grade when she joined her father on the course. He was looking for a way to alleviate the stress of long hours at work as a dentist. Her mother made the suggestion that Tiffany and dad could use this time to bond and be together. Six months later, Tiffany continued with the sport and her dad, noticing that she had a special talent, put away his clubs to focus on being Tiffany's coach.

 

At the beginning of each school day, breakfast awaits her arrival downstairs as the carpool is on its way. By 7:15 a.m., she has arrived at school and her classes begin. This is her first period of 8 classes she has enrolled in for this semester. Her day includes 3 honors and 3 AP classes. In our first conversation together, without ever mentioning golf, Tiffany jumps right into a discussion about reading, math and science. She isn't just mentioning the subjects, she's enthusiastic about them. She rambles on about reading historical fiction - her favorite subject. Then, in the next breath, she is exploring the humor of the comic strip, “Pearls Before Swine”. She notes how she struggles in English, but the instruction interests her. She has a wonderful AP Biology class that excites her senses to learn. She loves research and current events. Her parents purchased a subscription to Newsweek magazine pointing out that it keeps her up to date regarding current events. After school, practice begins at 3:45 p.m. for this golf team member. Tiffany talks about the competition. She averages scores of 74 to 79, although she has had a low round of 69. But more importantly, she talks about how skills are developed and earned and about her thirst for education which translates to her golf.

 

Like many of us, Tiffany Dong has a love-hate relationship with golf. Most of that feeling comes from the desire to do her best. Tiffany shares with me that, despite this desire to excel, she wasn't very aggressive when she began playing. She feels golf is a way to become more aggressive, in a disciplined way. It builds character and, by virtue of wanting to do her best, she aggressively spent the time, energy and focus to improve her skills. While acknowledging it is nice to win, her goals are really to do her best. She states, “If you expect a lot, you'll get a lot – the same as with expecting a little”, she tells me. Tiffany says her feelings include having the sheer will to succeed. With confidence, anything is possible, and at best, having enthusiasm for training and competition, and an uncompromising desire for success is important. She works on her game until 5:45 p.m. then joins up with the carpool. It's 6:40 p.m. when she walks through the front door of her home. It's a long commute that day due to traffic problems. Awaiting her at home are Casey and Stacy, two tabby cats whom she loves. Dinner is prepared and she, along with her mother and father, sit down to their nightly dinner. Once dinner is finished, homework begins and her day ends at midnight.

 

“Increased stress increases productivity - up to a point, and that level differs for each of us. It's much like the stress or tension on a violin string. Not enough produces a dull raspy sound and too much, an irritating screech or snaps the string - but just the correct degree of stress creates a beautiful tone. Similarly, we all have to find the right amount of stress that permits us to make pleasant music in our daily lives”, notes Paul J. Rosch, M.D.

 

This bright and vibrant young lady showed me that the stress she is experiencing in her life is self imposed, and it makes her happy. She embraces and excels under stress. Tiffany is well-rounded and golf is just another part of her life. Her life is filled to the brim with her education, her sport, her pets, her favorite TV shows and magazines, her friends, and, most of all, her deep love for her parents. From my brief encounter it's easy to see that Tiffany has found the right amount of stress to make her life a beautiful melody.

 

This melody deserves an encore.

 

 

 

Here's an update on the latest accomplishments of one of them, Ashley Noda, who recently played in the Northern California Golf Association/California Interscholastic Federation girls golf championship held at Corral de Tierra Country Club in Salinas. Competing as a freshman for Sacramento's Loretto High School, Ashley shot a 2 over 74 and finished second by one shot to Alameda's Sam Esguerra. St. Francis High School from Sacramento won its third consecutive Northern California team Championship, as Loretto High placed in a tie for 6th place.

 

Winning the Silver medal for overall play, Ashley was the number one individual that qualified for the State Championship held at Red Hills Country Club in Rancho Cucamonga. Six individuals and the top three teams advance.

 

The 6092 yard course played very tough and the greens were extremely fast. But, Ashley loves fast greens! She was excited that she was able to use her driver on most holes because of the distances, as she kept the driver in her bag throughout most of the high school season.

 

Ashley represented Loretto High School at the State Championships for the first time in the history of the school. She finished 6 over par 80 for a 15th place finish overall.