Marlborough School’s student body has boasted a large number of athletes for decades. David Collicutt, the school’s athletic director said 70 percent of the all-girl student body are involved with at least one sport like volleyball, basketball, tennis and golf. The title-defending golf program has a number of shining players.

“We have a lot of students whose families have someone who plays [golf], so it made sense to create a golf program,” Collicutt said. “Since we started it years ago, it’s only gotten better.”

Marlborough’s varsity golf team started in 2007 with school administrator Laura Morrison and Collicutt. At first, the team had only five players and competed in the South Bay league when they were learning to come together and play competitively.

“The South Bay League had a lot of good competition, and we were just getting our feet on the ground,” Collicutt said. “The girls did their best.”

In 2010, Rick Rielly, director of golf at the Wilshire Country Club, was asked to help coach the team. With hard work from the girls and Rielly’s help, the team has excelled to new heights and doubled its original size.

“We’re still a smaller team competing against much bigger schools,” Rielly said. “But our talent these last few years has really improved.”

The team now competes in the Mission League, and in 2015, Marlborough won the league title. The girls, Rielly said, set a new school record by being the only team at the school to win a league title in the Mission League.

Sophomores Olivia White and Leila Dizon set individual school records of their own during the season. The two, who have been playing golf since they were 5 years old, said although the team didn’t have an easy season, they set their minds to winning the league title.

The team was undefeated in regular play, but during a mid-season tournament, they fell to fourth place. To claim the league title, they had to close out the season undefeated and win the end-of-the-league tournament.

“It was a blessing in disguise,” Collicutt said. “The girls had to play even harder and make no mistakes.”

After accomplishing so much this year, White said the team is determined to take the league title again next fall.

“We surprised ourselves last season,” White said. “We worked really hard to win league and I’m proud of what we accomplished. Leila and I both made it to CIF [playoffs] but I’d like to see the team go further in CIF as well.”

Dizon said winning the league title was a rewarding experience, but having a team to interact with has been her favorite part of the golf program.

“I play [golf] outside of school. Golf is such an individual sport, but the team helps us bond,” Dizon said. “During the summer it’s just me competing in tournaments alone, so it’s nice to come to school and play on a team. It’s an encouraging environment. We help each other out and cheer each other on.”

The team, Dizon noted, practices early in the morning, travels together for tournaments and enjoys spending time together during the off-season.

“It’s a lot of fun getting to play on a team,” White said. “We’ve all become a lot closer because we spend so much time together.”

Playing for the golf team has helped the girls become more responsible off the green. Dizon said the girls have to be dedicated to the team and also learn to be more responsible with other priorities as well.

“It’s really tough, but beneficial in the long run,” Dizon said. “You have to manage your time wisely. We miss a lot of school during the season, so we have to stay on top of schoolwork and make sure we make up everything.”

Rielly said the team gives the girls a support system, and the sport itself offers them a life-long skill.

“It’s a sport they can play all their lives,” Rielly said. “It’s not like other sports where they play for a few years and eventually have to stop. The longevity of [golf] will take them a long way, and exposing them to it while they’re young is the best thing to do.”

Many of the players, he said, go on to play either in college or recreationally. After they graduate, many students continue to support the team.

“I have a lot of girls who come back after their senior year to cheer on our team,” Rielly said. “They stay in touch with the younger players. It really is like a family.”

Marlborough School’s golf program includes three teams, a middle school team and a junior varsity and varsity team for high school students. Collicutt said all student are welcome regardless of their experience.

“The program provides a great learning experience,” Collicutt said. “You see experienced players get better, and you see new players improve. The sport just continues to grow.”