El Capitan freshman will compete against some of the top high school golfers at NorCals

Esther Sheu is the type of competitor that kills her opponents with kindness on the golf course.

The El Capitan HIgh School freshman loves to compete, but she’s going to have fun doing it.

“She’s very nice, she’s super friendly,” said El Capitan girls golf coach Michael Davenport. “Golf is fun for her. You can tell she has fun out there. You can hear her laugh out loud when she hits a bad shot.”

Sheu’s approach has worked for her.

The 14-year old was the best golfer in the Central California Conference this season, being named the conference MVP by the coaches in the league.

She has continued her success in the postseason, posting a round of 73 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship to earn a berth at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championship.

Sheu then carded a round of 70 at the section Masters Championship at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton to force a one-hole playoff with a berth to the CIF Northern California Regional Championship on the line.

Sheu won the playoff to earn her spot at the NorCal Regional on Monday at the Berkeley Country Club in El Cerrito. She’ll compete against some of the top high school golfers in California.

She’s believed to be the first girl to compete at NorCals from Merced County.

“I’m super excited,” Sheu said.

Sheu started the sport when she was 6 years old. She would practice with her dad and brother. She started playing competitively when she was 10 years old and playing a lot when she was 13.

One of the reasons she loves to play golf is the social component of the sport.

“I like that you can talk to your opponent while you’re playing,” she said. “I have a lot of friends that I play against.”

Davenport says it’s Sheu’s all-around talent that makes her so good on the golf course.

“She’s good everywhere,” he said. “She has an incredible tee shot, she’s a really aggressive putter. She’s just a good all-around player.”

Sheu said she had to battle nerves in the one-hole playoff against Rocklin’s Lexi Booras.

“It was super nerve-wracking,” she said. “I was the first off the tee and I hooked my drive. It almost went in the water. I thought I was done. My coaches came over and said I’m still alive.”

Sheu then hit an incredible shot with her 9-iron on her second shot that landed within 8 feet of the hole.

“All my friends from other schools were all yelling and clapping,” Sheu said. “I was like, “Did I get close?’”

Sheu hopes to carry her positive attitude to the NorCal Regional championship. Even though the nerves will be there with a berth to the state championship on the line, Sheu will find a way to have fun.

“My expectation is to have a good time first of all,” she said. “I want to try to shoot in the 70s and I want to have a mind-set to win. I want to represent Merced and the Central Valley well.”