The Daily Breeze All-Area girls golf team for 2024.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Rina Kawasaki, Palos Verdes, Freshman

Rina Kawasaki made her freshman season at Palos Verdes a memorable one.

She was chosen the Bay League Golfer of the Year and capped her season by winning the CIF State championship.

“The key to her season was the unbelievable consistency of excellence in her play,” Sea Kings coach Ray Rivera said. “In league play she shot a combined 17-under-par in eight rounds. This is by far the best I have ever seen in my career.”

She was also very resilient. At the CIF/SCGA championships, Kawasaki birdied two of the last three holes to finish inside the cutoff with a 2-under 72 to keep her season alive.

The following week at the CIF State meet, Kawasaki bogeyed holes No. 14 and 15, then regrouped to record back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17. She finished her round with a 3-under 69 to force a playoff with defending state champion Zoe Jiamanukoonkit of Torrey Pines.

Kawasaki birdied the second playoff hole to win the state championship, draining a 15-foot putt on the 18th hole at San Gabriel Country Club.

That finish was part of her next shot mentality.

“In my mind, the bogeys on 14 and 15 were stupid bogeys,” she said after the event. “I didn’t think I hit bad shots, I just made stupid mistakes. I had to forget about that, don’t think about it and move forward and think about the current shot.”

Kawasaki was the first golfer for the Sea Kings to qualify for the state tournament since 2009 (Elizabeth Doty), and she was the first South Bay golfer to win the state title since Mira Costa’s Andrea Lee in 2013. Torrance has had two individual CIF State champions, Jenny Shin in 2008 and 2009 and Jane Rah in 2005.

“What makes Rina special is the rare combination of an extremely talented player that has a work ethic that is second to none,” Rivera said. “It’s because of this that the sky is the limit for her. I feel she will continue to develop throughout her high school career as she may grow a few more inches and get a bit stronger.

“She already has very impressive power and length off the tee and when she can increase her ball speed she will be even more dominant. She showed great determination the last two tournaments. She loves golf, loves to practice. She’s one of the best I’ve ever had in the program. It took her 150 holes (this season) before she made her first bogey.”

COACH OF THE YEAR

Raymond Rivera, Palos Verdes

Raymond Rivera is the Daily Breeze girls golf coach of the year for the second time. He also received the honor in 2018.

The Sea Kings’ season was highlighted by Rina Kawasaki’s impressive postseason run, which included winning the CIF state title.

Palos Verdes freshman Lindsay Park won the Bay League individual championship and senior Raquel Axtell led all South Bay golfers with a score of 71 at the CIF-SS Division 1 team championships.

ALL-AREA TEAM

Rina Kawasaki, Palos Verdes, Fr. (Player of the Year)

Lindsey Park, Palos Verdes, Fr.

Raquell Axtell, Palos Verdes, Sr.

Chloe Park, Peninsula, Sr.

Sophia Lu, Peninsula, Sr.

Bella Wu, Peninsula, So.

Rose Callewaert, Redondo, Fr.

Audrey Lee, North Torrance, Jr.