AMANDA HOBBS --- FIRST OF HER KIND
Being the first to accomplish something for a program is a pretty special thing to have on
your resume. For Amanda Hobbs GV class of 2012 she has just that item. The first female golfer
to advance to the CIF individual playoffs twice as well as being the team captain for the first girls
playoff appearance are a couple of pretty special accomplishments for the Biola college sophomore. A
former two sport athlete Hobbs gave up club soccer for golf her freshman year of high school. For
some people giving up one sport for another is a difficult decision. "After playing soccer for 11 years I
got burnt out I then asked my dad and brother if I could join them for a golf practice just to try the sport
out and have fun with the family. I ended up enjoying the sport and found interest in all aspects of
golf." Trying something new can create setback and become frustrating for anyone but not Hobbs and
her new competitive nature. Amanda admitted that at times she found frustration and challenges being
a new golfer in the high school. When asked about the struggle she told us "I continue to push and
invest time into practice golf and working on my game." That work and determination paid off with
those two CIF individual playoff appearances and the team playoff appearance as she put Golden
Valley golf on the map. "Making individuals was huge for me my junior year because I knew that only
one golfer had every qualified in school history." by making individuals Amanda was able to bring some
positive notoriety to Golden Valley's golf program which had been down on its luck the past few years.
At the end of individuals Amanda ended up shooting a 79 which she said she was proud of after only
two years of golf experience. The cut off for moving onto the second round was 78 regardless Hobbs
had herself and the program making positive strides.
During her senior year the grizzlies continued their upward march towards the top of the league
by winning their first ever league match at El Cariso golf course. "It was so awesome to see the
girls enjoying and seeing all the hard work pay off and to know that Amanda was the leader of that
team made me think her quitting soccer was worthwhile." said head coach Tony Moskal. Coach Moskal
also remembers the day she told him she was quitting soccer for golf. "I told her that I didn't want her
to quit soccer because she was focusing only, on one sport that burns her out, I wanted to make sure
that this was her decision and she convinced me that it was." Obviously that decision paid off for both
Hobbs and the program as they began to reach new heights.
Amanda success her junior year was nothing compared to her senior year when she was able to
return to individuals, yet again making her the first athlete in Golden Valley's history to make it to
individuals back to back, Amanda ended up outdoing her past self by shooting a 78. Once again the joy
of making playoffs quickly brought her back down to reality as she missed out on making the second
round by one stroke. It was an unfortunate situation because on one hole she got her ball stuck in a
tree and had to take a two-stroke penalty which ended up being the difference in moving on or going
home. She was also able to lead her entire team to the playoffs making it the first golf team to make
CIF in the school’s history. Amanda said, "The greatest achievement was being able to share the
experience with my teammates and seeing the excitement and joy it brought all of us getting to play on
the CIF team together." Coach Moskal looks back on those two years as the Beginning of what was to
be something special. "What Amanda meant to our program can’t be measured. She helped us get on
the right track, she was the reason other girls started playing golf at Golden Valley and she was a great
role model for younger girls in the program."
Amanda achieved her high school goal of getting a golf scholarship, and is now playing golf at the
college level. The Sophomore is a leader for the Biola Womens’ team and the success she achieved in
high school will be remembered by younger golfers and her fellow students.
Story written by GVHS Broadcast Journalism Student - Tyler Schumann
Source: GVHS - Broadcast Journalism