A multitude of Camas High School (CHS) athletes recently competed in state championships. One of those athletes is CHS senior Jasmine Chen, who won the girls 4A golf state championship.
In addition to her state title, Chen placed first in both district and regional competitions. But for Chen, this season was about more than her wins — it marked her growth into a leadership role on the team.
“Jasmine overcame many obstacles [this year] since she was having difficulty providing directions [to her teammates],” CHS teacher and golf coach Lori Thornton said. “[She persevered] and developed into a natural leader with basically an entire new team.
This development was not just seen by her coach but it was also seen by her teammates.
“Jasmine is not just a [player] on the team; her leadership and sportsmanship sets everyone up for success on the team,” CHS junior Isla Lucero said. “She is always willing to celebrate other people’s success even when she achieves something herself.”
Chen’s journey in golf began with her father and brother, who were the ones to first introduce her to the sport.After her family first got her into the sport, Chen continued to receive support — this time from her high school coaches.
“[Along with my family], my high school coaches played a big part in my golf career,” Chen said. “They are always there when I need them and they have endless support for me and the team.”
Support from those around her helped mold Chen into a natural leader and team player that is always there for her teammates.
“Jasmine has modeled integrity, perseverance and leadership under pressure for her team and community,” Thornton said. “While she takes golf seriously and has put in an extraordinary amount of time, she still has the time for her teammates to guide, inspire, and laugh.”
Chen looks back on her experiences playing golf for CHS positively, citing the tight-knit team atmosphere as the reason for her fond memories.
“My favorite memories from high school golf probably came from my sophomore year, especially during the postseason with the competition and the post-round [activities] we had planned either in the hotel or exploring wherever we were,” Chen said.
When it comes to the competition itself, there was one particular round that is ingrained in Chen’s memory.
“Regionals was by far the most competitive [competition] for me, seeing as I was behind by three strokes from the leader and ended up shooting a personal record (PR) to win,” Chen said. “Even though it was the most stressful, I think it was the most fulfilling and fun match this season.”
Chen’s competitive spirit, determination to achieve her goals, and uplifting attitude toward her teammates will be remembered and appreciated by both her coaches and teammates.
