Check out Ben Reese’s second SOL golf notebook of the season, featuring Norristown’s Sharon Nam.
By Ben Reese
Norristown golf coach Ian Morris knew what was coming when Sharon Nam came into the Norristown School District.
And what he got was an excellent golfer who has come into her own this season.
"Sharon came here from the Phoenixville area about three years ago," Morris said. "I had heard rumors about this unbelievable golfer we were getting at Norristown. That's not always a common thing for us to have.
"When she came, I could see right away that she had some talent. I could see that she was well-coached."
But it has been more than coaching that has Nam where she is - playing as the No. 1 on the Eagles' boys’ golf team.
"Practice," Nam said when asked how she has improved her game. "Coming out here (at Jeffersonville Golf Club) like 8-9 o'clock in the morning and leaving at 9-10 o'clock.
"Actually, it gets dark at 8:30 and gets completely dark by nine, so I'm usually here about 12 hours for like a whole week straight. I'm out here a whole week with my dad, and he's the one who drives me to do this every day."
Morris knows about the presence of Nam's parents in the equation. And he is all for it.
"Her parents are very involved in her life from a scholastic and an athletic standpoint," he said. "They're a terrific support system. They don't force her but they're very rigid with her and she responds well."
Nam is one of two girls who play No. 1 on their teams. The other is Pennsbury's Jackie Rogowicz.
Is it strange being a girl and playing No. 1 on a boys’ team? For Nam, it is slightly different.
"Usually it's the opposite," she said. "The boys would be No. 1. They don't even outdrive me."
While it hasn't paid off with many wins for the Eagles, it has been a dividend for Nam. She has ranked at the top of the list for Norristown since she arrived.
"She's been the No. 1 since she's been a sophomore," Morris explained. "I put this pressure on her when she came as a sophomore.
"I said you're going to be playing against the boys and that she would be playing No. 1 and she would be playing against every team’s best.
"I don't think it has affected her game. In essence, I think it has helped her game.
"When you are playing with people who play well, that improves your game. For three years now, she has gone up against some of the league's best and I'm talking about players who have handicaps scratch or under par. She has not wavered under the pressure no matter who her opponent is."
Nam also credits her participation in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) with her improved play. In 2013, she won two tournaments in the Philadelphia Junior PGA Tour and had one victory this summer, taking the Radnor Valley tourney.
"It was a really good experience because in this league I don't get to play with many girls," Nam said. "Playing there, playing with girls from China, Sweden, it was good. They're all fantastic players and I actually learned stuff from them, too."
If Morris likes her as a golfer, he loves her as a person.
"She's a very disciplined kid," he said. "She takes criticism well.
"As good a golfer as she is, she is probably twice the person and three times the student. You'd be hard pressed to find out there a kid with a brighter future than Sharon does."
Her future -- Nam has that plotted out already.
"I hope to play golf at Division I at either Lehigh University or Bucknell University," she said. "My reach school is actually the University of Penn.
"I want to go into a dental program. Lehigh and UPenn have a great partnership with that. I'm looking into a bunch of colleges to see what they'll offer me.
What about golf after college?
"That option (the LPGA) I'll always consider it," Nam said. "If it's presented to me, then I'll take it, but I still want to be a dentist."
With her future well in sight, Nam still has her eyes on the present.
Match of the year: Council Rock South got some payback for the past few years against district rival Council Rock North.
The Golden Hawks put together a magnificent round, beating the Indians 188-194 at Jericho National, North's home course. It was the first time that South has ever bested North at Jericho National.
"I was in shock," South coach Dennis Matika said. "I've seen us play well before but to do it at Jericho was pretty awesome."
Lukas Clark blistered the par-36 front nine with a 2-under 34. He was joined by par-shooters Hunter Goldberg and Griffin Smith. Dean Evangelou added a 40 and Mike Borychewsky a 42.
Girls, girls, girls:Have you noticed how many girls have stepped up this season in the Suburban One League. In addition to Nam and Rogowicz, who are the No. 1 players on their teams, there are several girls who have improved their scores from last year and from the beginning of the season.
Abington has Rebeca Chiger and Rock North has Lauren Muhlbauer. Debbie Park has been playing well for Upper Dublin as has Michayla Siemion for Central Bucks West.
Then there is the girls’ team at Hatboro-Horsham, the only one in the Suburban One League. The Hatters are led by Cassidy Gavaghan, Hannah Fireman and Cameron Fisher and have dominated the Pioneer Athletic Conference, the only one in the area with a girls’ league.
Coaches: Please keep in mind that this notebook can't function without your assistance. Make sure to report your scores to suburbanonesports.com and send along any interesting happenings throughout the rest of the season.
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