Athlete of the Year for Girls Golf: Kayla Jech, Union High School

Union's Kayla Jech in the studio at The Columbian on Thursday June 11, 2009. Jech is The Columbian's All-Region girls golfer of the year.(The Columbian/Zachary Kaufman)

Kayla Jech has her off days. Fortunately for her, those days usually come early in the season, when not much is on the line.

When it is winning time, Jech’s game arrives.

Jech, a junior from Union, won her second consecutive Class 3A District 4 girls golf title this season. She then made the cut at state before finishing 26th.

For her efforts, she is The Columbian’s All-Region girls golfer of the year.

Memorable moment from the season: "Probably after the first day of district, right afterward. It was a great feeling knowing I had it in the bag pretty much. I wasn’t for certain, but I was really confident. (Jech was ahead by five strokes after the first round and ended up winning the title by 13 strokes.)

Advice to a younger golfer: "Get the most out of your team experience. That’s what makes it all worth it, so much fun. My team this year was the best we’ve ever had, a great experience. Also, do not get discouraged early on. A lot of us started the season really badly. Spring is a hard time to start (golf) because you can’t play in the winter. Keep trying, and the end is when it will all come together."

What does it mean to play for Union, to represent the Titans? "It’s great. I love Union. I was really sad that I had to go to Union at first. I didn’t expect it to be all that great. (Jech would have gone to Mountain View if Union had not opened.) I ended up loving it, and I have so much pride for Union.

What does golf mean to you? "It’s a big part of my life now. Before, when I started, it was basically my dad dragging me out to the course. The last couple of years, I’ve taken my own initiative with the game. I just love it now. You don’t have to drag me to the course at all. I love the feeling of beating my scores and doing better."

Your most embarrassing moment in golf: "My 60 (in a 9-hole match.) It was terrible. It was going pretty bad throughout, but I was hoping I could make a few pars on the way in. Then I hit two out of bounds and one almost out of bounds (on the same hole). At that point, I knew I couldn’t save myself."

What is something about you that might surprise people to learn? "A couple years ago, I had a one-eyed hamster. He got in a fight and lost an eye. We had a $200 surgery for an $8 hamster."

What is a goal, associated with your sport, that you would like to accomplish soon? "Definitely to break 80. I’ll shoot a really good score for nine holes, but for 18 holes, I can’t seem to keep it going." (Her best 9-hole score is 35. Her best 18-hole score is an 81.)

What is a goal, outside of your sport, that you would like to accomplish? Get a 4.0 grade-point average for my senior year. I did it last semester."



What is something about your sport that people do not understand? A lot of my friends always joke, ‘You’re tired from golf? You can’t be tired from golf.’ They just don’t understand. It’s not the most physically challenging sport, but it’s very mentally challenging." (She also mentioned walking the course carrying a 30-pound bag.) "It’s not just a sport for leisure."



Do you play other sports? "No. I dabbled with basketball a little with my dad and brother. I love free throws. That’s what I’m good at."



Hobbies: "I play the flute, and I love singing."



What will take most from this past season? All her time with her teammates, she said. Kayla was one of two juniors, with the rest of the team made up of sophomores and freshmen.  "They all love golf. You can definitely tell. They had such a great attitude and they were just so much fun to be around."



Thoughts on being named the player of the year: "It’s really cool. I didn’t really expect it. I didn’t really know (about it). It’s a really cool feeling. Flattering."



How did Jech get her start in golf? Her father, Scott, taught Kayla how to swing.



Most influential coach? She has had several swing coaches through the years, but the answer is simple: "Still my dad."



Have you met any famous people? "I tried to meet Brendan Fraser at Big Al’s. At the Safeway Classic, I shook the hand of Paula Creamer."