There were plenty of reasons for the San Jose State women’s golf team and coach Dana Dorman to be optimistic heading into the 2021 Fall season.
The Spartans returned key golfers like Antonia Malate and Kajsa Arwefjall from their run last year, had a talented freshman from Spain entering the equation, and had Natasha Andrea Oon back into the fold after missing last year with an injury.
“We basically had everyone back and had one freshman who is contributing,” said Spartans’ coach Dana Dormann. “We thought (coming into the Fall season) that we would be pretty good. They had us ranked 27th to start and the talk around the team was, ‘How did they know we would be good’.”
They were more than good.
By the end of the Fall season, they were up to No. 11, the highest ranking for the school in 20 years. The season ended with a second-place finish in the Stanford Intercollegiate against a field of top women’s golf programs from around the country.
The team score of 846 for three rounds – was the second lowest in school history. The Spartans have a rich history in the sport and Dormann is a centerpiece of that history as a player.
She played at San Jose State from 1985 through 1988 and was a member of the 1987 NCAA Championship team. That year she won four tournaments and was the 1987 Pacific Coast Athletic Association Player of the Year.
Professionally, she played 10 years on the LPGA Tour, winning the 1992 Las Vegas LPGA International and the 1993 McCall’s LPGA Classic.
Still playing competitively, Dormann earned medalist honors by shooting a three-under 68 to qualify for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open in 2018 in Chicago. Dormann was the only player under par at the qualifier on the par-71 Ocean Course at San Francisco’s Olympic Club.
Dormann is no stranger to USGA events as she played in 14 U.S. Women’s Open Championships. She was one of five Spartan All-Americans to make the cut at the 2006 U.S. Women’s Open.
She certainly has gotten it done as a player, and now is making her mark as a coach.
“We want to fight for a national championship,” said Dormann. “We are trying to give our players all the tools they need to be successful.”
That starts with the coaching staff. Joining Dormann is longtime friend, as well as former Spartan and LPGA pro Pat Hurst, and Kortnie Maxoutopoulis Barret, a Foothill High in Pleasanton product and former NCAA player at Texas Christian University.
“I am super happy to have both of them here,” said Dormann.
Dormann has also assembled a top team of golfers from all over the globe.
Arwefjall is from Sweden, Oon is from Malaysia, Lucia Lopez Ortega – the super freshman – is from Spain. Sophomore Louisa Carlbom is also from Sweden.
Dormann and her staff have complimented the internationals with top notch players from California. Malate is from Seaside, Jadan Gonzalez is from Glendora, Jordyn Parr hails from Temecula, and Danielle Suh is a sophomore from San Ramon.
How does Dormann bring in the global talent to mesh with home grown Californians?
“One, I think the tradition of San Jose State golf,” said Dorman. “All the players that have come before, the history. Two, we have an incredible practice center on campus, and three, we play in high quality tournaments.”
It certainly is working. San Jose State is one of only two schools with three players ranked in the top 40 in the country right now. Oon (21), Malate (38), Arwefjall (40) are the three as all excelled in the Fall.
Malate was the September Mountain Golfer of the Month, with Lopez Ortega the September Freshman Golfer of the Month. Oon earned the October Golfer of the Month.
The Spartans are currently on official time off from the course, focusing on their academics and strength building. January 18 will be the first official practice as the team will build towards the Spring season and a run at another San Jose State National Title.
Make sure to check back here at ACES throughout the spring for updates on all things San Jose State women’s golf!
By Dennis Miller